TCC International Centre for Innovation, Manufacturing, Technology Transfer and Entrepreneurship

What TCC International Centre for Innovation, Manufacturing, Technology Transfer and Entrepreneurship does

TCC-CIMET is a UNESCO Category II Centre of Excellence hosted by the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi, Ghana, operating across engineering research, advanced manufacturing, technology transfer, and entrepreneurship skill training. Founded in 1972, the centre has built a 50-plus year track record serving Sub-Saharan Africa and has served as the institutional model for technology transfer centres in Zambia, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Benin, and Togo. Its primary customers are SMEs, artisans, and metal workers (notably in the Suame Magazine industrial enclave of roughly 12,000 stalls and 200,000 workers), engineering students from KNUST and other Sub-Saharan African universities, women and youth, secondary and TVET schools, rural communities, and donor-funded development programs.

The centre's technology portfolio spans manufacturing innovations (energy-efficient cookstoves deployed in Ghanaian secondary schools, water filters, cement supplements, agricultural equipment including corn shellers and cassava graters, diesel-from-plastic-waste, detergents, food processing tools) and clean energy systems (ferro cement charcoal gasifiers, corn cob briquettes, biogas, and aquatic-weed-to-briquettes technology developed jointly with MIT D-Lab). Smart manufacturing infrastructure at the Technology Transfer and Production Unit (TTPU) at Suame Magazine includes CNC milling and lathe machines, plasma cutting, and 3D printing; the US$150,000 Cookstove Testing and Expertise Laboratory (C-Lab) on KNUST campus provides ISO-aligned testing in partnership with UNDP Ghana, the Ghana Energy Commission, and the Ghana Standards Authority. A 2024 digitalization agenda is layering Internet of Things applications into the manufacturing portfolio.

TCC-CIMET operates as a non-profit academic centre under a tripartite agreement between UNESCO, the Government of Ghana, and KNUST. Revenue mechanics are grant- and donor-driven rather than commercial: sources include UNESCO core funding, Government of Ghana institutional support, KNUST infrastructure, and project-specific grants from UNDP, GIZ, USAID, CIDA, the Commonwealth Secretariat, OXFAM, the Royal Academy of Engineers, MIT, SNV, and the European Union. Technology transfer and consultancy services, cookstove manufacturing and C-Lab testing fees, and donor-funded skills training programs (notably for women and youth technology entrepreneurship) constitute the named revenue streams. No commercial pricing model is publicly disclosed, and the centre does not pursue venture-scale monetization.

Name

TCC International Centre for Innovation, Manufacturing, Technology Transfer and Entrepreneurship

Legal name

Technology Consultancy Centre (TCC-CIMET), UNESCO Category II Centre (C2C) of Excellence

Website

https://tcc.knust.edu.gh

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

TCC-CIMET is a UNESCO Category II Centre of Excellence at KNUST in Kumasi, Ghana, providing engineering research, manufacturing innovation, technology transfer, and entrepreneurship training to artisans, students, women, youth, and rural communities across West Africa since 1972.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Engineering Research and Technology Transfer Services

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

CNC Machining & Programming (EDAOAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

CNC Plasma/Laser Cutting & Automated Fabrication Training (EDAOADAH)

Keywords

• Engineering research services
• Technology transfer training
• Advanced manufacturing innovation
• Clean energy solutions
• Entrepreneurship skills programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Kumasi

HQ country

Ghana

HQ region

Africa

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Technology Transfer and Consultancy Services: TCC-CIMET generates revenue through technology transfer services, consultancy engagements, and manufacturing technology solutions provided to industries, communities, and government agencies.
2. Cookstove Manufacturing and Testing: The centre manufactures and tests cookstoves for secondary schools and communities. The C-Lab facility conducts testing services for local manufacturers.
3. Skills Training Programs (Donor-Funded): Skills training programs funded by donor agencies for women and youth technology entrepreneurship. Funding from UNESCO, GIZ, UNDP, and other international development organizations.
4. Government and Institutional Support: Established through tripartite agreement between UNESCO, Government of Ghana, and KNUST. Core funding support from government and international bodies for engineering education and technology transfer activities.

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

TCC-CIMET conducts engineering research, manufactures clean energy and agricultural technology products (energy-efficient cookstoves, water filters, ferro-cement charcoal gasifiers, corn cob briquettes, cassava processing tools), and delivers technology transfer, consultancy, and entrepreneurship training to artisans, students, SMEs, and communities across Ghana and the wider Sub-Saharan African region. The centre operates production units equipped with CNC, plasma cutting, lathes, and 3D printing, runs the Cookstove Testing and Expertise Laboratory (C-Lab), and organises design competitions and capacity-building programs in partnership with international development organisations.

Product overview

TCC-CIMET is a UNESCO Category II Centre of Excellence at KNUST offering a comprehensive portfolio of technology solutions, manufacturing innovations, and training programs. The organization operates multiple service units including Technology Transfer and Production, Food Processing & Hygiene, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Clean Energy Cooking, and Applied Industrial Ceramics. Core products include energy-efficient cookstoves manufactured at scale for Ghanaian schools, water filters, cement supplements, agricultural equipment, and food processing tools. The centre also provides specialized testing facilities like the Cookstove Testing and Expertise Lab (C-Lab), the Technology Transfer and Production Unit (TTPU) with CNC capabilities, and the Auto Diagnostics Training Centre. Training programs cover smart manufacturing technologies (CNC, 3D printing), robotics, CAD, and entrepreneurship skills. The Innovation Challenge program engages engineering students across Sub-Saharan Africa in sustainable design competitions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cookstove Testing and Expertise Laboratory (C-Lab): Laboratory for facilitating research and training in designing improved cookstoves for enterprise development, testing efficiency, performance, emissions levels and heat content
• Technology Transfer and Production Unit (TTPU)
• Innovation Challenge: Engineering Solutions for Sustainable Africa

Products and services

• Energy-Efficient Cookstoves Large-scale manufactured energy-efficient cookstoves designed for secondary schools across Ghana, offering superior heat retention, cost-effectiveness, and minimal emissions for clean cooking.
• Technology Transfer and Entrepreneurship Training Programs Comprehensive programs equipping individuals with skills and knowledge to develop and manage technology ventures, with emphasis on innovation and sustainability.
• Cookstove Testing and Expertise Laboratory (C-Lab) Services Testing services for cookstove efficiency, performance, emissions levels, and heat content, delivered through a US$150,000 facility co-funded with UNDP Ghana, the Ghana Energy Commission, and the Ghana Standards Authority.
• Innovation Challenge: Engineering Solutions for Sustainable Africa Engineering design competition engaging undergraduate engineering students across Sub-Saharan Africa to develop innovative solutions addressing environmental sustainability through circular economy approaches.
• Women and Youth Technology Entrepreneurship Programs Donor-funded skills training programs for women and youth covering business planning, marketing, finance, and technology application, delivered through hands-on training.
• Auto Diagnostics Training Centre Training facility for automotive diagnostics established through collaboration with German Cooperation, SMIDO, and GIZ, focused on strengthening technological capacities of Suame Magazine artisans.
• Ferro Cement Charcoal Gasifier Technology Technology solution that produces electricity from charcoal using combustible gas from charcoal, built from locally available materials including cement, sand, iron rods, and chicken wires.
• Corn Cob Briquettes and Charcoal Production Briquettes produced from corn cobs for clean cooking fuel, transforming agricultural waste into clean energy through charring processes.
• Biogas Technology Solutions Biogas technology solutions for rural and urban communities, with training on construction and operation of biogas digesters delivered as social enterprise workshops.
• Aquatic Weed to Briquettes Technology Technology developed jointly with MIT D-Lab to transform water hyacinth from the Volta River into briquettes for industrial energy use, under the VISTA project.
• ADE Mini Cassava Grater and Press Compact cassava processing equipment designed as an intermediary between home graters and village graters, targeting gari producers and restaurant operators, developed with Olin College of Engineering.
• Smart Manufacturing Training (CNC, Plasma, Lathe, 3D Printing) Training programs in CNC Milling, Lathe, Plasma cutting, and 3D printing delivered to artisans and students at the Technology Transfer and Production Unit (TTPU) at Suame Magazine.
• Artisan Manufacturing Standards Certification Programs Manufacturing standards training in collaboration with the Engineering Council, certifying artisans in modern manufacturing practices across Kumasi (Asafo, Sofoline, Atonsu, Emina).
• Jatropha Processing Technology Jatropha-based products including oil extraction facilities, decorticators, diesel engines, and oil expellers for renewable energy and livelihood improvement.
• Water Filters and Cement Supplements Effective water filters developed using local materials and cost-effective cement supplements for building and block making, developed by TCC research fellows for indigenous industries.

Quantifiable outcome

• Suame Magazine enclave supports 200,000+ jobs across 12,000 stalls and 35 associations
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ghana Commission for UNESCOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 November 2025Partnership through the TRANS-SAHARA Project coordinated by Technische Universität München (TUM) in Germany, funded by the European Union. TCC-CIMET leads Ghana's Living Lab engaging water-stressed communities in degraded ecosystems using the Water-Energy-Ecosystem (WEFE) Nexus approach with agroforestry, rainwater harvesting, and solar PV systems.
• MIT D-LabcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 February 2025Joint VISTA project (initiated 2023) to investigate invasive aquatic plants in the Volta River and develop technology transforming aquatic weeds (water hyacinth) into briquettes for industrial energy替代 charcoal.
• Nedra Universities ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 January 2025MOU signed at International Forum on Role of Engineering Education and Science in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals in St. Petersburg Mining University. Framework for cooperation in practice-based education, research, and knowledge exchange.
• International Competence Centre for Mining Engineering Education (ICCMEE), Saint PetersburgcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2024Planning partnership with key areas: MoU signing, consortium for African technical universities, international standards for mineral extraction engineer certification, staff/student exchange programs, joint short courses, and establishment of ICCMEE Branch in Africa.
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on conversion of water hyacinth to charcoal and smart manufacturing technologies. MIT's Coby Unger (Hobby Shop associate instructor) leads training of TCC-CIMET staff on CNC and smart manufacturing. Joint VISTA project developing technology to transform aquatic weeds into briquettes for industrial energy use.
• Technische Universität München (TUM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinator of the European Union-funded TRANS-SAHARA Project. Collaboration focuses on regional collaboration and sustainable development across the Sahara region.
• Ghana Energy CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on cookstove manufacturing and ISO standard testing. Partnership includes support for energy-efficient cookstove production and testing protocols.
• Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on training artisans in auto diagnostic systems. GIZ leadership conducted familiarization visit in 2024. Partnership under Invest for Jobs programme providing auto diagnostics training to strengthen technological capacities of Suame Magazine artisans.
• Ghana Standards AuthoritycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership ensuring compliance with manufacturing innovation and standards. Collaborates with Ghana Energy Commission on developing technical standards for cookstove energy efficiency and safety.
• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on establishment of the Cookstove Testing and Expertise Laboratory (C-Lab) providing US$100,000 of the US$150,000 funding. Partnership on clean energy research and cookstove development.
• Royal Academy of Engineers (UK)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on engineering education and manufacturing projects aimed at entrepreneurship skill development for communities.
• SNV (Netherlands Development Organisation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTransfer of ferro cement charcoal gasifier technology to Ghana. Collaboration on biogas as social enterprise workshops and clean energy projects.
• Chirano Gold MinesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on manufacturing and entrepreneurship skill development projects for communities in need.
• Akosombo Industrial Company LimitedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the VISTA project alongside MIT and KNUST, providing industrial application context for aquatic weed-derived briquettes.
• Women in Engineering Ghana (WiNE-Ghana)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on International Women in Engineering Day celebrations, mentorship programs, and initiatives promoting gender diversity in STEM education.
• University of Pennsylvania (UPENN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint organizer of International Development Summer Institute (IDSI), a summer school where UPENN students work with KNUST students on internships in Health, Water and sanitation, Education, Microfinance, and Appropriate technology.
• Ghana TVET ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on TVET student empowerment programs, skills development initiatives, and technical education enhancement across Ghana.
• Engineering Council GhanacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on artisan certification programs, manufacturing standards development, and professional recognition for artisans in modern manufacturing practices.
• Olin College of Engineering (Affordable Design and Entrepreneurship Program)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing collaboration since 2013 on food processing technology including mini cassava graters and presses. Prof. Benjamin Linder leads ADE program with TCC on standardized cassava processing equipment and spot welding technology.
• Innovate Make and Have Ours Ltd. (IMHO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering solutions design company collaborating with TCC-CIMET and WiNE-KNUST on enhancing the value chain of clay products in the Mfensi community.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Pan African University (PAU): An African Union institution operating pan-African centres of excellence for graduate STEM and applied sciences research. PAU shares TCC-CIMET's continental remit, donor-supported model, and engineering/applied-science focus, making it a directly comparable peer.
• Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST): A pan-African STEM research and postgraduate training institution in Arusha, Tanzania. NM-AIST mirrors TCC-CIMET's mandate to build African engineering and applied-science capacity through a network of partner institutions and donor-supported programmes.
• Ashesi University: A Ghanaian liberal-arts and engineering university with a strong entrepreneurship and leadership curriculum. Ashesi competes with TCC-CIMET for the same pool of Ghanaian engineering talent, donor funding, and student engagement in STEM and entrepreneurship programmes.
• GRATIS Foundation (Ghana): GRATIS was established in 1986 by the Ghanaian government explicitly to replicate the TCC Technology Transfer Unit model across all ten regional capitals. It operates technology transfer units serving SMEs and artisans across Ghana with a comparable mandate, making it the closest direct operational peer.
• African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS): A pan-African network of centres of excellence delivering postgraduate STEM education and research across multiple countries. AIMS is the most direct institutional parallel to TCC-CIMET's UNESCO-affiliated, multi-country engineering and science mandate, with comparable reliance on international donor and partner funding.
• Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Ghana: Ghana's national multi-disciplinary research institute covering industrial, water, food, and building research. CSIR operates directly in technology transfer, applied R&D, and industrial support, making it the most locally comparable peer to TCC-CIMET's manufacturing and technology transfer mandate in Ghana.
• Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (KIRDI): Kenya's national institute for industrial research, technology development, and SME support across food, energy, materials, and engineering. KIRDI is a close cross-border peer for TCC-CIMET's technology transfer, prototyping, and artisan/SME capacity-building activities.

Emerging players

• Rwanda Polytechnic (RP): Rwanda's national polytechnic delivering TVET and applied engineering training across multiple campuses. RP is comparable to TCC-CIMET's TVET-focused training programmes in machining, fabrication, and smart manufacturing for artisans and technical students, although it operates within a different national context.
• African Leadership University (ALU): A pan-African network of campuses focused on developing African leaders through undergraduate and graduate programmes in business, engineering, and technology. ALU competes for the same donor-supported African talent pipeline and emphasises entrepreneurship, overlapping with TCC-CIMET's entrepreneurship training programmes.

Others

• United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO): UNIDO is a UN agency that funds and operates industrial development and technology transfer programmes across developing economies, including Ghana. UNIDO is an enabling ecosystem participant and potential partner/funder rather than a direct competitor, but its programmes cover the same technology transfer mandate that TCC-CIMET delivers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/knusttcc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@KNUSTTechnologyConsultancyCent
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/knust-technology-consultancy-centre-unesco-c2c

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about TCC International Centre for Innovation, Manufacturing, Technology Transfer and Entrepreneurship