Initiatives taken by Higher Education sector to link researcher/academia, industrialists through new app

The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) together with the Accelerating Higher Education Expansion and Development (AHEAD), a World Bank funded project operated under the Ministry of Higher Education which support the academic research projects and the research leading to commercialisation, organised an awareness session on linking the researchers/academia and the industrialists with a view of further strengthening the linkage.

The main objective of having this session was to provide awareness on the initiatives taken by the Higher Education Sector to link with the industrialists. Ministry of Higher Education and Cultural Affairs Lead Academic Expert/AHEAD Operation Prof. D.T.U. Abeytunga addressed the gathering by highlighting the fact that the Ministry of Higher Education, through 2016 UGC circulars, has made arrangements to establish University Business Linkage (UBL) Cells in 15 State universities in order to link the industry and commercial partners, apart from developing further linkages with industry/researchers and academia along with technology.  

A detailed presentation on a new app called ‘CONNECT AHEAD’ which is being developed by the AHEAD was made to the industrialists. Professor Abeytunga explained that this will bridge the gap between researchers/academia and the industries and provide a platform for networking to find the best suitable research partners from a University for the respective industry counterparts. 

It was also stated that this will help University UBL cells to find matching commercial partners for individual company’s interests through the app. 

Different innovative ideas on selected products such as Kolbath Flakes, Self-Maintained Smart Indoor Ornamental Orchid Plant, a complete Ayurvedic Treatment Module for Cerebral Palsy (Balaka Pakshag-hathaya), Synthesising a Novel Paper Material from Panicum maximum and ALL SKY CAMERA. 

Real time health monitoring and crop dusting drone with potential commercialisation value were introduced by the six selected University cells namely, the Wayamba University, Open University in Sri Lanka, Uwa Wellassa University, University of Moratuwa, University of Colombo and University of Ruhuna. 

These presentations were delivered by the Directors of University Business linkage cells. The EDB requested the industrialists to join hands with the UBL cells to commercialise their products and also to make use of the ongoing research for the development of the products, while registering through the new app (Please visit ahead.lk/connect/).

EDB Director General Jeevani Siriwardena, Ministry of Development Strategies and International Trade (MoDSIT) Assistant Director Saliya Jayathilake and representing the industry, MAS Tropical Food Ltd. Managing Director Mario De Alwis and SLEMEA Chairman Manjulal Waas shared their views at this gathering. 

This short session provided an opportunity to both industrialists and the University Business Linkage Cells to network, exchange ongoing and interested industry-research initiatives while enriching themselves with their strategic partnerships to merge the discovery-driven culture of the university with the innovation-driven environment of the industry.