‘Driving Research Towards Economy’ by SL Academy of Young Scientists

An International Conference on “Driving Research Towards Economy: Opportunities and Challenges” was held on July 5, 2013, at the National Science Foundation with over a 100 distinguished gathering of local and international participants.

The aim of the conference, organized by the Sri Lankan Academy of Young Scientist (web: slays.org), was to bring together various authorities involved in research, such as NSF, NRC, Universities, Industries, SLINTEC, Research Institutes ; ITI, IFS, Centres of International Research excellence, as ICCBS and the Ministry for Research and Technology, onto a common platform. to discuss issues related to development of research standards in Sri Lanka.

Technology Research and Atomic Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka was the Chief Guest and Sri Jayawardenpura University Vice Chancellor Prof N.L.A. Karunaratne was the Guest of honor. The keynote speech was delivered by Pakistan’s former Science and Information Technology Federal Minister Prof Atta-Ur-Rahman, FRS. He emphasised that, the progress of Research is based on a triple helix system, with one stakeholder being Universities and Research Institutions, the second being government and government policies, and third being the Industries. He pointed out that, the level of critical interplay among these stakeholders would determine how rapidly a nation could progress towards Research Economy.

The other speakers were Pakistan’s Karachi University Vice Chancellor Prof M. Qaiser, International Centre for Chemical and Biological Science Director Prof M. Iqbal Chodhary, Global Young Academy Co-Chair, Prof Sameh Soror, NASSL President Dr. Kingsley de Alwis, NSF Chairman Prof Sirimali Fernando, Coordinating Secretariat for Science Technology & Innovation Project Director Prof. Ajith de Alwis, Prof Vijaya Kumar, Dr Nilwala Kottegoda, and Dr Dilru Ranaweera.