Heritors Labs Ltd. Labs, in collaboration with The RISA Fund and UK International Development, convened the Women and Innovation Research Conclave Policy Dialogue, a gathering held at the Kempinski Hotel, Accra—a significant milestone in advancing gender-focused innovation discourse.

This meeting was a vital component of WIRC’s broader policy dialogue strategy, designed to leverage the expertise of distinguished women leaders across research, innovation, and the social sciences. The central aim was to accelerate the empowerment of emerging female researchers, innovators, and entrepreneurs.

Key discussions at the Conclave focused on pivotal topics such as:

1. How can we develop a strategic framework of policy recommendations that effectively dismantles the market and financial access barriers faced by women in Science, Technology, Innovation, and Research (STIR)?

2. Strategies for inclusion of innovations from rural and marginalised communities in broader markets.

3. Establishing the purpose, structure, and roles of the Women in Innovation & Research Advisory Conclave.

These conversations were driven by a shared commitment to creating meaningful pathways for women in STIR, especially those from underrepresented communities.

The collective insights, strategies, and recommendations will be synthesised into a comprehensive framework. This framework is intended to serve as a policy guide for the government, driving interventions that enhance the role and impact of women in research and innovation as key contributors to national development.

The policy dialogue brought together outstanding women executives; Marian Dorcas Quain, Marian Asantewah Nkansah (PhD , MRSC, FGA) Irene Kretchy Hillary Adare Adelaide Asante Gloria Agyare Wilhemina Quaye Rosemary Okla Ama Serwah Nerquaye-Tetteh from diverse fields, alongside Derrydean Dadzie, CEO of Heritors Labs Ltd.

The dialogue among these women in STIR set the stage for actionable recommendations that will advance the inclusion and leadership of women in innovation, both within Ghana and on the global stage