Inventors Commission seeks recognition for inventors

By Devin Jayasundera 

With innovation becoming the most often talked about growth factor, Sri Lanka’s Inventors Commission (SLIC) believes the country needs to promote a more conducive environment and encourage its inventors to expedite Sri Lanka’s growth to a high income economy.  

In 2016 Sri Lanka slumped by six points to rank 91 in the Global Innovation Index whilst India significantly improved its stand by 15 points to reach the 66th position. The report states expenditure on education and R&D as the contributing factors in derailing the innovative eco-system of the country. 

SLIC is one of the pioneering governmental bodies in facilitating and fostering the innovative capabilities of the country. According to SLIC Commissioner Dr. Mahesh Edirisinghe one of the key reasons for the lack of innovative culture in the country is due to what he calls not having the ‘right attitude’. “I think we are not innovators. Most of our people are followers,” he says. 

“Our society is knowledge based. But we need people who are ready to think out of the box. If a school kid is doing invention it should be encouraged especially the parents.” 

The National Inventors Day which will be held on 26 October is one of the flagship events of SLIC. The day also commemorates the birthday of Dr. A.N.S. Kulasinghe who is heralded as the father of engineering in Sri Lanka. Dr. Kulasinghe was the inspiration behind many iconic structures and buildings including the Kalutara Chaithyaya, Colombo Port Chaithyaya, Colombo Planetarium and Mahaweli Maha Seya.

In a bid to revive the innovation eco-sphere SLIC has been instrumental in organising the ‘Sahasak Nimavum’ competition to identify the best inventions of the country. The best inventions will be selected under four categories; open university and tertiary educational institutes, schools and commercial. Some notable inventions of the competition includes the cashew peeling off machine which is now imported to 15 countries and the nanotechnology based air sanitising CFL bulb which went on to win the gold and silver medals at the ‘Inventions Geneva’ exhibition in 2013. 

Dr. Edirisinghe believes lack of recognition for inventors and their products is a primary obstacle in boosting innovation. He attributes this to failure in effective commercialisation. “When we go to the market we have a tendency to choose a foreign product in spite of the locally made ones. For that we need to change the quality and the appearance has to change. Better marketing practices should be educated to our inventors.” 

Under the ‘Diri Nipayum’ program SLIC provides inventors with financial grants, consulting services and value addition support to succeed in the commercial space. Recently the commission provided a Rs. 800,000 grant for a floating tractor inventor commissioning five more of it. 

SLIC has also planned to issue identity cards with a view to encourage and recognise Sri Lankan inventors. The identity cards will enable inventors for special services from government institutions and partner bodies. “We are in discussion with merchants, organisations so that inventors will get some discounts and priorities,” said Dr. Edirisinghe.

SLIC was accepted as a full member of the International Federation for Inventors Association and the World Intellectual Property Association. As a result inventors who attend international competitions will be only charged for their air tickets and all other expenses will be covered by the organisers according to Dr. Edirisinghe.