NSF partners with industry in promoting strategic PPP for wealth creation

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The National Science Foundation (NSF) embarked upon a new initiative with a view to forging strategic public-private partnerships (PPPs) for wealth creation through development of disruptive technologies and innovation. In this connection, preliminary discussions were  held with the Colombo Chambers of Commerce (CCC) on the 2nd February 2022 with  the participation  of several outstanding economists, business leaders  and  entrepreneurs under the chairmanship of Prof. Ranjith Senaratne, Chairman of the NSF.

With its vast and comprehensive  intellectual and R&D resource base and global network with outstanding Sri Lankan expatriates across the globe,  the NSF is in a unique position to harness, mobilize and channel intellectual assets to meet the needs and challenges of industry. To this end, it proposes to bring   the key players, namely academia,  R&D institutions,  public sector and industry under one roof to forge strategic PPPs in high-priority and high-impact fields in a mutually rewarding and reinforcing manner to promote  economic development of the country with emphasis on export promotion and FDI.

During the discussion,  several high-priority areas were identified and strategies for  the way forward were  discussed. Need to pay particular attention to immediate and short-term needs of the country while ensuring long-term sustainability was stressed.

Mr. Manjula de Silva, Secretary General/ CEO, the CCC, Dr. W. A. Wijewardena, former Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Dr Chandra Embuldeniya, Chairman of the Technology Development & Innovation  Arm of the NSF,  Mr Rizvi Zaheed, Chairman of the Agripreneurs' Forum and Mr. Shiran Fernando, Chief Economist of  the CCC were present. It was decided to hold  the next meeting with the participation of all the key Chambers of Commerce in Sri Lanka,  covering both the corporate and SME sectors and thought leaders such as Prof. Ajantha Dharmasiri, former Director of the PIM and Mr. Deepal Sooriyaarachchi who have considerable experience in working with the private sector.