Press Release: Retrofitted Biomedical Engineering Labs to Train Industry-Ready Graduates for Stronger Healthcare

25th February, 2026 - Accra, Ghana

To close the gap between education, research and industry in the field of biomedical engineering, a joint project between five private sector German and Ghanaian companies and GIZ is improving training and providing laboratory equipment for biomedical engineering students at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and University of Ghana. This move will position the biomedical engineering (BME) students to graduate with job-ready skills that are in high demand across hospitals, manufacturing firms, and medical service providers nationwide.

Equipping the two bioinstrumentation laboratories was made possible under the “Upskilling Biomedical Engineers for Ghana” project. This so called “development partnership with the private sector” is jointly facilitated by medical technology and diagnostic companies B. Braun, Delft Imaging, Drager and Sysmex Europe and the adaptive learning platform Area9 Lyceum. It is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and funded through the develoPPP programme.

The retrofitted laboratories replicate real clinical environments, enabling students to develop practical skills in medical equipment installation, maintenance, diagnostics, therapeutics and innovation with equipment from project partners. This marks a significant shift from theory-heavy training to practice-oriented learning that aligns with the needs of Ghana’s rapidly evolving healthcare system.

The expected impact extends beyond education. By helping to build a workforce of job-ready graduates, the initiative is expected to improve the availability and use of medical and diagnostic equipment in health facilities, enhance patient care, improve access to diagnostic and therapeutic care and create new employment opportunities in biomedical services, medical device distribution, and local manufacturing.

Beyond new equipment, the project is transforming how biomedical engineering is taught. Courses at both universities are being revamped to place greater emphasis on applied learning, problem-solving, and exposure to industry-standard technologies. This approach ensures graduates are better prepared for employment while also encouraging local innovation in medical devices and healthcare solutions.

Prof. Dr. Torsten Wagner, a Lead Consultant on the project, speaking on behalf of the five private companies said, “For the medical technology companies, access to graduates who already understand their equipment and industry standards is a game-changer. These labs will shorten onboarding time, boost productivity, and support the growth of local medical device services.” The Project Manager , Dr Helene Widmer, also noted, “This project aligns with broader development goals; strengthening local capacity, improving healthcare outcomes, and creating sustainable employment opportunities for young Ghanaians.”

The official launch of the laboratories will take place on 26th February 2026 at the UG campus.