Ambitious plans to boost R&D to 5% of GDP

• Plans to collaborate with about 300 businesses to foster R&D Hopes to focus on practical research to boost economic growth
• Ministry plans 15 acre incubation centreCurrently only 0.01% of Budget allocated for R&D
• Says subject experts will be appointed as Ministry officials

A proposal has been compiled to mega-charge State-led research and development to eventually contribute 5% of GDP through effective partnering with the private sector to focus on technology research by collaborating with businessmen, experts and the rural communities, an official said yesterday.

Non Cabinet Minister of Science, Technology and Research Sujeewa Senasinghe stated that the ministry hoped to consult with 200 to 300 private sector companies to get their insight about the kind of knowledge and technology they are in need of and to put that forth towards research and try to come up with technology that can solve these gaps. “Most times research is done about impractical aspects and this way we will be focussing on doing research for existing issues that stands in the way of production and manufacturing that aids the economy of the country. Through this we are hoping to deliver the knowledge and machinery needed and use research to contribute to economic growth,” the Minister stated.

Senasinghe explained how the Ministry was now in the process of appointing officials to the Ministry, those with knowledge about these subjects without any political alliances, specifically those who were university professors educated in the fields or pioneers of these fields.

“We will collaborate with universities to understand who will be best suited to these positions,” he said.

The Minister explained that even though only 0.01% of the Budget had been allocated for research, the Ministry hoped to maximise these funds to not only help with the development of technology and knowledge necessary for businesses but also to increase awareness of rural communities about this by sharing it with future generations through a program called ‘Shilpasenaa’ that operates in a manner similar to Mahapola.

“We are hoping to hold one program per month for each district, which will be held as a knowledge-sharing exhibition for a duration of three to four days at a selected school with the collaboration of all schools in the district,” he added.

The Minister further said these ‘Shilpasenaa’ exhibitions would feature vocational training centres where private sector companies would be given a platform to interview youth for paid jobs during their training period.

Further detailing the Ministry’s plans, Senasinghe said that the Ministry would prioritise specifying the clear division of objectives between the 12 institutions in the Ministry and identify clearly the duties of each institution according to the act.

He further stated that along with the five-acre land plot by Slintech Company, the Ministry had acquired two more land plots each with 15 acres of land to build incubation centres for research purposes.

“We will employ youth from universities who have gained specific subject knowledge for these centres. We need to train our future generations to increase productivity in Sri Lanka,” the Minister added.