Innovation from within: The policy perspective Policy challenges in fostering Science, Technology and

Innovation for economic growth

Innovation and Technology Day, 24 April 2012, Doha, Qatar

Tissa VitaranaSenior Minister for Scientific Affairs, Sri Lanka

Focus …

1. Technology and innovation in achieving faster economic growth – considerations for countries in the South

2. What have been the main policy and implementation challenges for Sri Lanka?

3. What have we learnt? What are the implications for policy making? How Sri Lanka is facing the challenges

4. Policy considerations at a global level

Technology and innovation for faster economic growth in the South

• Shift from a commodity based to a knowledge based economy• Wealth creation through technology and innovation

– Exploitation of IP– Value addition; More through high tech value addition

• Build capacity for multi-faceted, multi phased processes involved in R&D/innovation →Technology → Up scaling to commercial production → Market– Building the indigenous capacity for innovation and high end

technologies• Requirement of specialized human resources / infrastructure /a

conducive environment for innovation to take place– Reorient and coordinate the National Research and Innovation System

to optimize investment in STI

Main policy and implementation challenges for Sri Lanka?

• Poor investment in STI and R&D at national level (<0.2% of the GDP)

• National Research and Innovation System ; Scattered (over 10 line ministries), disjointed, poorly resourced; lacks mechanisms to utilize research output; lacks a framework at national level for coordination of STI → huge gaps in providing technological solutions to national issues

• Inadequate human resources and skills for STI based activities– Brain Drain/ Skill shortages and gaps/ Human resource

shortcomings• Outdated, not well maintained STI and R&D infrastructure• Poor R&D / innovation / techno-entrepreneurship culture in

State / industry

R&D and wealth creation in Sri Lanka

Poor R&D commercialization culture

Ad-hoc R&D projects instead of focused programmes

Low level of industry oriented R&D

Poor investment on R&D by local industries

Low Investment in

R&D

A vicious cycle

Poor visibility for R&D output

Inadequate human resources for R&D

Outdated R&D infrastructure

No significant contribution of R&D by State sector for wealth creation

Sri Lankan Endeavours …

• The National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI)

• The National Strategy for Science, Technology and

Innovation

Backdrop and Rationale for the NNI in Sri Lanka

• Low (<2) % of high tech manufactured exports from Sri Lanka

– indicating poor high end innovation culture in the country

• R&D and industry in any of the high end technologies has not

been developed to a satisfactory level in Sri Lanka

• Limited STI capacity

• Poor patenting and research commercialization culture (1-2

patents registered at USPTO per year)

Technological revolutions (waves) - the basis for economic

development …

Industrial Revolution (late 18th and early 19th centuries)

Electronics Revolution(1960's)

ICT Revolution(1980’s)

Biotech Revolution (1990’s)

Nanotech(In 21 st Century)

Robert Solow – 1987 Nobel prize for Economics - proving that US economic development due

to technological advances through R+D and innovation. That is how investment help.

We attempted to...• Maximize the utilization of our limited STI resources by

converging them to one initiative, so that it will:– Contribute to rapid take off of the national economy (in close

partnership with industry)– Develop a high end technology (nanotechnology) that cuts across all

other technologies; so that other technologies will also develop in parallel

– Be a catalyst to change the existing National Research and Innovation system (and the mind set) in Sri Lanka

• Create (in 2008) a public private partnership envisioned and backed by the state sector and driven by the private sector (through an incorporated company – Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology (SLINTEC Pvt. Ltd) – with the necessary autonomy and flexibility

NNI as the catalyst for change …SLINTEC - potential to change the National Research and Innovation System of Sri Lanka; more: – Socially accountable

• Promote equitable, inclusive technology → sustainable development

– Commercially oriented• Creating a platform for techno-entrepreneurship and a

patenting culture; revenue generated now equals the total equity contributed by the State and the private sector on a 50:50 basis

– Conscious of Quality; Safety ; Ethical issues– Nationally and internationally visible– Strengthened human, physical and operational

capabilities (mechanisms to overcome bureaucratic impediments and enhance brain gain , GLP)

Science, Technology and Innovation strategy for Sri Lanka 2011-2015

VisionSri Lanka to be a leader in knowledge creation and

innovation in Asia whilst rapidly harnessing that knowledge for the prosperity of our people

• To establish a world class National Research and Innovation eco-system to generate strategic and sustainable technologies and innovations to win the “economic war” by:– Focusing on areas of core competencies and

resource linked opportunities;– Preparing our people for a knowledge society

through improved scientific literacy ; and– Upholding sustainable principles in all spheres of

STI activity.

It’s Mission …

Sustainability principles

Sustainability principles

Scientifically literate Society

Scientifically literate Society

Rapid Economic

Development

AdvancedTechnology

Initiative

Techno-entrepreneur-ship initiative

Directed R&D

World class National Research and Innovation Eco-System

World class National Research and Innovation Eco-System

Policy considerations at a global level

• Science, Technology and Innovation should be a priority item in the development agenda for less industrialized countries of international funding/ donor agencies/ countries

• Harmonization of regulations, standards and best practices at global level

• Sharing of resources: cooperate in a competitive milieu

• International effort to convert brain drain to a brain circulation