Monday Nov 18, 2024
Monday Nov 18, 2024
Wednesday, 27 November 2013 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The exhibition will be declared opened by the Minister of Research and Technology Patali Champika Ranawaka and the second day will be officiated by the Minister of Higher Education S.B. Dissanayake, Minister of Education Bandula Gunawardena and the Minister of Youth Affairs Dulles Allahapperuma.
One main concern inventors have is finding market access to commercialise their inventions. With this in mind SLIC has invited the Sri Lanka Angel Network, SLASSCOM and Brandix who are scouting for viable inventions for investment to join the selection process. This will be a major step forward in supporting commercialisation of inventions.
Marking a significant improvement from the last year this time the largest number of 302 entries have come from open category with schools and universities closely following them by submitting 248 and 205 respectively. The school category entries have been short listed from over 1500 submitted to the provincial exhibitions held in all nine provinces. University entries have been promoted by the special program titled SIIP organised by the Ministry of Higher Education. The highest number of entries has been received in the field of safety and security followed by environment. In addition to selecting the best solutions in each of the technical fields under the participating categories the overall best in five nationally significant fields too will be selected.
Twelve fields with national and international significance
1. Making disabled independent: Considering that 10% of the global population is considered to be disabled and most of them in poverty, innovations to make them independent is a global priority. In Sri Lanka also being a fast aging population and with a significant disabled population, this segment will try to focus the attention of innovators to come up with innovative solutions.
2. Environment: With climate change, increased urbanisation and industrialisation, poses significant challenges to protecting environment while meeting human aspirations. Hence this has always been a hotly competed field in any invention exhibition.
3. Food: Change of life style across the globe has created ever increasing demand on never food solutions. Healthy, economical, easy to prepare and easy to use will always have a good demand.
4. Agriculture: Under this category various solutions to improve agricultural yield and productivity will be considered. This has been an area a lot of innovative solutions have been developed even in the past. For instance the first ever two wheel tractor was invented by late Vidyajothi Ray Wijewardene.
5. Health and nutrition: We expect a large number of competitors to field their entries under this category. Leveraging the rich biodiversity and traditional ayurvedic knowledge coupled with modern science many innovations have been carried out. For instance, the global herbal health care market is estimated to reach over $ 13 billion by 2018.
6. Energy: Not only alternative ways to generate energy but also ways to improve productivity of energy consumption will also be considered under this category.
7. Construction: This is another field various inventions are being introduced on a wide range of aspects ranging from materials, equipments, tools, methodologies and products that make constructions stronger, economical, safer and even environment friendly.
8. Teaching aids: This segment was consciously introduced to provide a platform for various teachers who have evolved very innovative solution to make teaching effective. Some of these creations never get recognised even yet the contributions they make are very high.
9. Safety and security: Human safety and security covers inventions in a wide range of fields, industrial, road and home safety are primary though.
10. Apparel, textiles and accessories: This was specially introduced responding to the need of the industry. This is an industry that always meets global competition and cutting edge innovation. As a significant contributor to the national economy, the apparel sector now commands special attention. Innovations to the challenges in that industry will have national significance
11. Entertainment: This is another field where various innovations are being introduced starting from developing new musical instruments to various accessories that enhance listener experiences.
12. Communication/Transport: Any solution that will improve human communication will fall within this broad category. In the past our inventors have had developed solutions that have achieved international recognition.
From the winners in the above fields, the best under the following special fields will be recognised separately. These will cut across all the fields but the attention will be given to select the outstanding application or relevance in any of the following fields. They can be common to many fields: Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Electronics, Traditional Knowledge, Nano Technology and Substitutes for imports
The Dasis Awards are presented to the best invention or inventor in each of the following participating categories at the ‘Sahasak Nimewum’ National Exhibition for Inventions and Innovations.
1. School
2. University and Technical Colleges
3. Open
4. Commercialised Inventions
Dasis is the given name to King Rawana, who probably is one of the greatest inventors in our history. The most popular of his inventions is the ‘Dandu Monara’; the wooden airplane. As a nation we have so much to get inspired from our rich heritage. Hence we chose the name ‘Dasis’ for the award.
The Dasis Award will include a cash prize of Rs. 750, 000, the Dasis Trophy and the certificate.
