Tuesday, 7 October 2014 00:57
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The need for greater synergy between universities and businesses was emphasised at a recent forum to strengthen university-business links in Sri Lanka.
More than 30 participants representing the University Grants Commission, ministries, universities and businesses discussed the possibilities of creating greater cooperation between the university system in Sri Lanka and the private sector. They deliberated how to better utilise outcomes of academic research at the commercial level and how more universities can undertake tailor-made research based on the demands of business.
Chief Executive of SQW Group, a UK-based company specialising in SME development, technology transfer and innovation, Chris Green said: “Strengthening links between universities and firms in Sri Lanka is vital in order to accelerate economic growth. Stronger links will ensure university research and teaching are more relevant to the country’s development needs. Firms will benefit from being able to recruit graduates with a better understanding of industry, and by obtaining useful technologies and innovations from research and consultancy undertaken by universities.”
Presentations were made by Professor Attalage of Moratuwa University on the current situation in Sri Lanka regarding university-industry links, while Chris Green focused on the international experience of developing various kinds of university-industry links and some of the successful university-business links in countries like Korea and Malaysia where close interactions have paved the way to businesses receiving better support for product development through university research.
A panel comprising University of Jaffna Faculty of Agriculture Professor G. Mikunthan, CCC Solutions Ltd. Managing Director Chandula Abeywickrema, Institute of Policy Studies Research Economist Anushka Wijesinha and Dr. Nicholas Miles of SQW looked at the details of building technology transfer and commercialisation expertise in strong intermediary organisations which can communicate effectively with both academics and business.
Participants also suggested that universities in Sri Lanka could develop the expertise in-house over time, with the support of a toolkit incorporating best local and international practices. The role of universities in promoting technology transfer to SME businesses scattered across the country was discussed with representatives from the Colombo, Moratuwa, Jaffna, East and Uva universities.
One concrete measure discussed at the forum was the ‘travelling university’, a novel research concept which brings together the expertise of academics, expectations of the SME and the concepts of students onto one platform, travelling to different parts of country to meet businesses and provide advice on possibilities to upgrade business through technology transfer.
Experience around the world demonstrates that policies and practices which incentivise staff and students to work with firms in order to support technology upgrading and product and process innovation can have significant and far-reaching long-term benefits for those individuals, for their institutions and for the wider economy. It is these long-term benefits that are required in order for Sri Lanka’s SMEs to improve their market competitiveness and for the country to avoid the middle income trap.
Through the Sri Lankan-German SME Development Program, implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance and Planning, GIZ aims to support a cohesive policy framework that enables SME to grow in an inclusive and eco-friendly manner, enhance competitiveness of SME due to technology transfer and innovation, improve access to finance for SME, and enable SME to take advantage of green technologies and maintain nature’s capital for sustainable growth. The project works with the Ministry of Technology and Research on topics related to technology transfer.
The SME Development Program is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) in Germany.
