JICA holds seminar on Japanese technical cooperation in science and technology

In the economical setting of Sri Lanka transiting towards a middle income nation, reliance on Intellectual Exchanges’ to further intensify the economy is likely to increase.

With this perception, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Embassy of Japan in Sri Lanka in collaboration with the National Academy of Sciences Sri Lanka (NASSL) conducted a seminar on Japanese Technical Cooperation in Science and Technology on the 24th of February 2012, attended by the Ambassador of Japan Nobuhito Hobo, Senior Minister of Scientific Affairs, Professor Tissa Vitarana, Chief Representative of JICA Sri Lanka office, Akira Shimura, and members of the Universities and Academia.

At the outset of the seminar, participants were specifically enlighten on the current technical cooperation schemes of the Government of Japan in science and technology, followed by the commencement of a need survey for the Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS) scheme of the Japanese Government.

In addressing the gathering, Ambassador Hobo emphasised the implications of ‘Science and Technology Diplomacy’ between Japan and Sri Lanka, towards achieving a sustainable development and tackling common global challenges. The need of intellectual exchanges and joint programming within this development perspective that is likely to transfer the paradigm of one-way technical cooperation, to a stage of two-sided cooperation was highlighted.

“SAIREPS scheme was jointly initiated by JICA and Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) in year 2008, to promote international joint research targeting global issues which cannot be easily met by a single country or region acting on its own. This scheme is eminent among international researchers due to its characteristic of a grant availability of maximum 500 million JPY within a period of five years. SATREPS encourages joint research with Japanese academia, which leads its outcomes for the benefit of the society. Today’s seminar will be a key in understanding these SATREPS requirements, for instance; in securing the practicability factor of research, in constructing partnerships with the Japanese academia, and information on the application process and scheduling of the scheme,” said JICA Sri Lanka Chief Representative Akira Shimura in explaining the concept of the seminar.

At the presentation sessions of the seminar, participants were enlightened by Masahito Yano of JST Singapore office on available technical cooperation schemes and its application process.The seminar was concluded, after an interactive session of discussions with the local academia and members of the line agencies.