Technical Session II - Emerging Technology Systems of Innovation in Sri Lanka: Current Status and Challenges

1. Status of Nanotechnology & Advanced Technology
Veranja Karunaratne
National Consultative Workshop on Strengthening and Road-mapping of Emerging Technology Innovation Systems
of Sri Lanka 17th to 19th Nov. 2015

2. • National Nanotechnology Initiative - 2006
• Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology
(SLINTEC)- 2008
• First Public – Private Partnership in research
• Direct Involvement of the Sri Lankan Private Sector Companies in Research
• 300% Tax Incentive to the Private Sector who
carry out R & D - 2013
• Substantial Increase in University Salaries - 2013
• Government Funding for R & D – 1.5%

3. • Cornell/INSEAD/WIPO report marks Sri Lanka's progress from 105th position last year
to 85th position in 2015
• Other countries may have become worse in Human Capital & Research!
• Sri Lanka makes advancements areas such as the government's online service index and
online e-participation
• 34 GDP per unit of energy use, and communications and computer and information
services imports
• In areas such as ease of starting a business, ease of resolving insolvency, rule of law,
employment in knowledge-intensive services, and new business density“, Sri Lanka
went down
Sri Lanka’s position improves in the Global Innovation Index in 2015

4. Human Resources Linked to Scientific Outcomes
• Scientific Personnel ~ 5000
• University Academics ~4000
• Research Institutes ~ 1000
Webometric Rankings of Sri Lankan Scientists:
http://www.webometrics.info/en/node/103
Scientists with an H index of 5 and above (400) 4000

5. U of Peradeniya U of Colombo U of Kelaniya U of Sri JP U of Moratuwa U of Jaffna
Who is Managing Research in Higher Seats of Learning?
• University Industry Cells
(University of Moratuwa, University of Peradeniya)
• National Research Cadre??????
• Reward & Place Scientists in a Tier System
• Based on a In Put-Out Put System

6. There has been an increase in University S & T recruitments
In recent times
• Production of local Ph.Ds (UOP/SLINTEC produced 5 Ph.Ds in Nanotechnology;
UoW 4
• Increase in the number of Ph.D. returnees from abroad
7 Ph.Ds in 2008 21 Ph.Ds in 2015
SLINTEC
S & T outcomes of other traditional
universities remain low
IFSChemistry UOP
Natural Products 1975-1985 Solar Energy 1985-2005

7. Investment in S & T Infrastructure & Equipment
No National Policy for providing Equipment to the Universities

8. Intellectual Property Scenario
Universities & Research Institutes – Very Few Patents
SLINTEC Model Radically Different to Other Research Organizations
• First Five Patents Filed Within Ten Months of Research (2010)
• Two in Nanofertilizer Systems Were Sold in 2012
• Stage-gated Expansion Based on Successes
• SLINTEC has filed 11 patents (4 sold)
• Two in National Phase Filing (16 Countries)
• One in National Phase Filing (6 Countries)

9. Industry Readiness for Research & Commercialization
Commodity Mindset to a “Smart” Nation
Sri Lankan Industry is Risk Averse:
Innovavations slow to arrive
High Tech Exports are at 0.9% (South Asian Average 6%)

10. Your text here
Classic Stalemate

11. SLINTEC Research Partners
Commercialization
?

12. Nano-photocatalytic hospital Infection Control System – Developed and Engineered in SL (approved
By the Indian Medial Association

13. Strategic Research & Innovation Focus Areas at
SLINTEC
Agriculture Water Purification Apparel Healthcare Mineral Resources Advanced
Programmes
Advanced Plant
Nutrients,
Fertilizers &
Agrochemicals
Nano-composites,
Nano-sorbents,
Nanoparticles, Nano-
membranes
Smart Textiles Nutraceuticals High Value Mineral
Processing
Synthetic
Chemistry, Biology
and
Nanomedicine
Slow release
Nano-Fertilizer
Nanomaterials for
water purification
Textiles for Wellbeing Turmeric
Anti-Bacterial
Anti – Oxidant
Anti - Cancer
Titanium Dioxide
(TiO2)
and Titanium from
Ilmenite
Active
Pharmaceutical
Ingredients (APIs)
for high value
drugs
Targeted Plant
Nutrient Release
Carbon nanotubes
(CNTs)/graphene for
water purification
Textiles for Water
and Energy
Conservation
Manioc
Anti–Cancer
Rare Earth Oxides
from Monazite
Synthesis of new
agrochemicals
Integrated Plant
Nutrient Systems
Electrochemical
methods for water
purification
Electronic
textiles/garments
Cinnamon
Alleviation of
Diabetes
Montmorillonite
(MMT nanoclay)
from
Biological
pathways for
complex molecule
natural medicines
Targeted Release
of Pesticides and
Insecticides
Sensors for testing
water quality
Functional sports
wear
Basil (maduru thala)
Anti - fungal
Anti -Cancer
Graphene and
Graphite Oxide
from Graphite
Controlled and
targeted drug
release
UoP/ITI/IFS/UoW
UoP/UoC
UoP/IFS/UoW
Solar Energy: IFS/UoW
UoJ

14. Development & Pilot Plants: SLINTEC Efforts

15. The road we have long been traveling is deceptively easy, a smooth
superhighway on which we progress with great speed, but at its end
lies disaster. The other fork of the road / the one less traveled by
offers our last, our only chance to reach a destination that assures
our preservation.
0.15 %...................0.9%