About The Lab

The CARISCA Innovations LAB is a hub that connects brilliance to opportunities through innovation and entrepreneurship. It consists of high-achieving students with unique talents and merits from diverse backgrounds and countries in Africa who have work together to innovate and turn their innovations in budding products as well as world class companies. The LAB was founded in December 2020 with support from Arizona State University’s Luminosity Lab and USAID. Since its inception, the LAB has gone through many changes to attract the interest of other organizations such Mastercard Foundation among others.

The LAB seeks to engage more interested individuals and organizations to help African graduates create and grow their innovations into world class products and companies. The LAB is located at premier science and technology university in Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi Ghana. It is an integral part of the Business School of the University. It drives innovations through the strong science and technology background of the university and enhances entrepreneurship through the excellent business strength of the university.

In executing its mandate, the LAB builds a vibrant team of expertise in various disciplines to support students who have less knowledge on the technical requirements of their respective innovations. It forms partnerships with other innovation hubs, incubation centers, angel investment networks, venture capitalist and international bodies with aligned interests to acquire resources necessary for effective transformation of students’ innovative ideas into marketable products and ventures.

Target Group

The program primarily targets students and recent graduates of KNUST, including those pursuing undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. With over 80,000 students at KNUST, including approximately 30% female students, the lab provides a significant platform for students from all backgrounds to explore innovative ideas and secure sustainable jobs. CARISCA Innovations Lab is committed to creating opportunities that can change the lives of young people, fostering confidence, and enabling them to test their project ideas before venturing into the wider world.

Mission

The mission of the CARISCA Innovations Lab is to harness the brilliance, unique talents, and merits of African students to foster innovations that transcend borders. Our goal is to provide the resources, mentorship, and support required to empower these students to create innovative solutions that address global challenges.

Vision

We aspire to become the premier innovations lab in Africa, renowned for generating world-class innovative ideas, products, and companies that tackle some of the world’s most pressing issues. Our vision transcends geographical boundaries, as we cultivate a culture of creativity and entrepreneurship.

Core Values

How The Lab Works

Highly Skilled Individuals

The Lab comprises high-achieving students selected for unique talents through a competitive process, reflecting their exceptional merits and demonstrating a commitment to excellence in their respective fields.

Cross-Functional Innovation Teams

In the LAB, project teams, comprising a minimum of three members, are strategically crafted to tackle industry challenges through innovations, ensuring a balanced composition with one business professional, one designer, and one developer in each team.

Diverse Innovation Ecosystem

Text for This BlockThe Lab nurtures dynamic projects: Students unveil creativity, faculty contribute expertise, and industry collaboration addresses real-world challenges. This cohesive approach embodies innovation, uniting academia, mentorship, and industry for impactful outcomes.

Our Team

At the heart of our success is a multidisciplinary team of experts dedicated to collaborating with students to bring their ideas to fruition. The lab actively forms strategic partnerships with innovation hubs, incubation centres, angel investment networks, venture capitalists, and international organizations, providing students with the resources and guidance needed to transform their innovative ideas into marketable products. Our dedicated team is committed to equipping student entrepreneurs with the tools and resources required for success

Dr. John Serbe Marfo

Senior Technical Advisor

John Serbe Marfo, Lecturer in Supply Chain, brings extensive research and consulting experience and is responsible for developing strategies and leading research on healthcare supply chain innovation and technology.

Stephen Boakye Frimpong

Administrative Manager

Stephen Boakye Frimpong is a self-motivated, dependable Entrepreneur experienced in providing encouragement and direction to current and future students willing to apply what they learn to solve societal problems..

Jesse Anim

Technical Manager

Jesse Anim, the Lab’s Technical Manager, with profound technological background, passionately collaborates with young individuals to identify, develop, and implement original solutions for societal challenges.

Our Partners