This policy commitment shall in addition contribute to addressing some of the other identified developmental challenges facing Ghana, including: the challenges of the weak scientific research base and under-developed research and development (R&D) capacity; the challenges of the limited human resource capacity characterized by low professional, technical and managerial manpower base; the challenges of the disproportionate informal private sector; the challenges of the under-developed and under-performing private sector; the challenges of the low job creation capacity of the economy as well as the challenges of the narrow export base dominated by traditional exports Policy Objectives and Strategies The Objectives • To support and strengthen scientific research and R&D within the nation’s universities and research institutions as a basis for promoting the development of a globally competitive local ICT sector and industry. • To promote and encourage industrial based R&D to facilitate innovation and product development and service improvement and advancement • To develop world-class service sector and industry through the promotion of advanced R&D within the economy • To enhance industrial technology development infrastructure • To promote and facilitate R&D work targeting recyclable materials technologies and application to minimize industrial waste in the environment The Strategies • Improve the research and development (R&D) capacity of Ghana to meet the demands and requirements for developing Ghana’s information and knowledge-based economy and society • Promote agricultural research as well as cutting-edge agriculture-based R&D development of a modernize and competitive agriculture sector • Encourage R&D activities aimed at the development of tools, equipment and machinery for industries and encourage quality assurance in manufacturing • Support biomedical research and improvement in the general health delivery system and promote and support research into plant medicine to complement allopathic medicine • Facilitate capacity building in all science and technology areas, which hold promise for enhanced national development, including engineering design and industrial technology systems • Promote knowledge acquisition and development of technologies in the new and emerging sciences of biotechnology, materials science, microelectronics and laser technology 66 targeting the