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Friday Sep 20, 2024
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The focus for this technology transfer solutions will be given to local entrepreneurs in herbal, fruit and food sectors. This activity will be carried out jointly with the ‘Vidatha’ program of the Ministry of Technology & Research.
The technology transferring activities of the project will have added focus on green technology, similar to pollution control or utilisation of waste products. The project would position a strong focus on cooperation with other technology providers and distribution channels to streamline the supply chain towards regional SME.
In this exercise ITI plans to do a more regionally demanding research and development and to offer technology it has developed and sustainably transfer to the entrepreneurs in these regions, together with hands-on assistance to ensure successful outcomes.
One of the problems faced by SMEs in establishing industries particularly in these less developed regions is their inability to access technology advancements,” stated ITI Chairman Prof. W. Abeyewickreme.
Experience spreading over five decades in technology
Through this project with GIZ – SME Development, ITI intends to reach out to SME businesses with limited access to technology and innovation in the Northern, Eastern and Uva provinces. ITI equipped with extensive experience spreading over five decades in technology transfer to MSMEs through developing innovative products for the market, is in a strong position to provide its expertise with the support of GIZ – SME.
ITI Director General/CEO Dr. G.A.S. Premakumara, while thanking GIZ – SME for supporting the initiative of this project, affirmed that, “Under the current initiative, ITI would envisage many activities to disseminate the services offered by ITI to the SMEs on requirement basis.”
“This project helps ITI to reach out to the regional masses with its current portfolio of developed technologies in the areas of food, herbal and environmental sectors,” he further added.
The first series of events of the project intends to raise awareness amongst SMEs while identifying their specific technological needs. The series entails dissemination of the current services provided by ITI in the areas of food sector, herbal sector, material science and environmental solutions.
Representatives from other regional technology transfer institutions such as Vidatha Centres, Industrial Development Board (IDB), Universities, Local Government Authorities, Chambers, Associations and private sector will be involved extensively in these initiatives. Through the above institutions, ITI has the position to showcase their technology transfer solutions to the SMEs in an open market place. The feedback received from SMEs will be then tabulated and analysed where detailed technology needs will be identified and as a result of which appropriate technologies could be developed.
Green technology plays pivotal role
“Encouraging SMEs to incorporate green technology practices plays nowadays a pivotal role in the transfer of technology, and creates an important effect by providing much needed know how to propel these SME businesses into national markets and beyond,” GIZ – SME Development Senior Advisor German Mueller reflected at the inauguration of the project.
Commenting further, SME Development Advisor Hasitha Wijesundara said, “The collaboration between GIZ and ITI will provide further opportunity to enhance the capacity of ITI, reaching out to the masses and to provide their facilities in a sustainable basis in a long run. With this initiative the potential future market for ITI will be created among the regional SMEs and GIZ is committed to maintain this dynamically through capacity building, facilitating advanced trainings, and providing other learning platforms to ITI and its experts,” he added.
The second phase of the project would contain added focus on training events where technology transfer to the SME will be performed. These events would be more specific and will be conducted after the needs of the SMEs are identified, subsequent to the conduct of the first series of events. Through a series of visits and consultations, ITI will transfer the technologies to selected SMEs in the regions.
Establishment of ICT infrastructure for video conferencing is also another facility made under this project, with the objective of increasing the outreach of the technology transfer initiatives developed by ITI to make the information broadly available to the SMEs. Through the proposed video conferencing facility, future tailored technology solutions will be accessible via Vidatha and Nenasala Centres.
The Industrial Technology Institute (ITI) is a statutory body incorporated on 1 April 1998, under the Science and Technology Development Act No. 11 of 1994, and is the successor to the Ceylon Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research (CISIR).
ITI provides local industry, mainly SMEs, and government regulatory authorities with accredited testing services and necessary technical advice. It has also transferred the technology of many low and medium technology products to industrialists and assisted them in setting up factories to manufacture them. ITI provides solutions to problems faced by industry through technology or other consultation or in the case of rural entrepreneurs, through either its E-farm software or the ‘Vidatha’ outreach initiative of the Ministry of Technology and Research which provides support for the Science & Technology needs of MSMEs. It is also involved in formulating environmental solutions to the Sri Lankan industry.
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 & 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.
