Advancing Innovation and Technology through Patent Information: A Case Study of Accra Polytechnic

Abstract

This paper presents the outcome of a research carried out at the Accra Polytechnic on the role patent information plays in promoting innovation and technology. The study highlighted on some of the usefulness of patent information and explored its efficacy in teaching and learning. The objectives for the development of polytechnic education in Ghana is to create the manpower need for innovations and also to provide the technical expertise on the job market by ways of modifying and implementing ideas.The outcome of the study revealed that, majority of the students had no knowledge about patent Information and those who had knowledge about it find it difficult accessing and contributing to it. Though the various departments of the polytechnic invent ideas, patenting them becomes difficult.The study responses further indicated that, the aim of the polytechnic is to support research to increase in the availability of scientific and technical information yet the diverse ways of innovation and inventions has not gain the needed support. The study revealed that, the use of patent information in teaching and learning would foster development.Despite the enormous advantages patent plays in technology, the study has buttressed a research report by the World Intellectual Property Organization WIPO (2010) that, Africa is the least continent that utilizes patent information and this has resulted in a decline in innovation and invention.  Further, the limited usage of patent information among polytechnics students and the idea of intellectual property were new to them.The study adopted the simple random sampling approach, using the structured questionnaires

Keywords: Intellectual property, inventions, polytechnic education