Earlier this month marked an important milestone for the upcoming cocoa innovation hackathon as representatives from the NL Embassy in Ghana, Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences (HVHL) and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The signing moment symbolised the formal start of the cocoa innovation project and set the stage for stronger collaboration between government, academia and the private sector from both Ghana and the Netherlands.
The MoU signing took place during a roundtable meeting attended by 15 companies from across the cocoa value chain. Attending companies shared real-world challenges they hope to see addressed during the hackathon, ranging from chemical waste processing to the collection and valorisation of organic waste and strengthening links with cooperatives.
The hackathon, scheduled for February 2026, will take place simultaneously at the KNUST campus in Kumasi (Ghana) and the HVHL campus in Velp (the Netherlands). By connecting students, researchers and industry experts, the initiative aims to encourage entrepreneurship and generate practical, scalable solutions.
Supported by Orange Corners, through the cocoa innovation project higher education institutions and private-sector partners will work hand in hand to bridge the gap between theory and practice. By participating in the hackathon, companies gain access to fresh ideas, emerging talent and a growing network dedicated to sustainable cocoa sector innovation
With the MoU now signed, preparations continue on the pre-programme. This signing represents not just a formal agreement, but an enthusiastic kick-off to a joint effort aimed at shaping a more sustainable and profitable future for the cocoa sector in Ghana and beyond.
