Status of Nanotechnology & Advanced Technology
Veranja Karunaratne
National Consultative Workshop on Strengthening and Road-mapping of Emerging Technology Innovation Systemsof Sri Lanka 17th to 19th Nov. 2015
• National Nanotechnology Initiative - 2006• Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology (SLINTEC)- 2008
• First Public – Private Partnership in research• Direct Involvement of the Sri Lankan Private Sector Companies in Research
• 300% Tax Incentive to the Private Sector who carry out R & D - 2013• Substantial Increase in University Salaries - 2013• Government Funding for R & D –
1.5%
• Cornell/INSEAD/WIPO report marks Sri Lanka's progress from 105th position last year to 85th position in 2015
• Other countries may have become worse in Human Capital & Research!
• Sri Lanka makes advancements areas such as the government's online service index and online e-participation
• 34 GDP per unit of energy use, and communications and computer and information services imports
• In areas such as ease of starting a business, ease of resolving insolvency, rule of law, employment in knowledge-intensive services, and new business density“, Sri Lanka went down
Sri Lanka’s position improves in the Global Innovation Index in 2015
Human Resources Linked to Scientific Outcomes
• Scientific Personnel ~ 5000• University Academics ~4000• Research Institutes ~ 1000
Webometric Rankings of Sri Lankan Scientists: http://www.webometrics.info/en/node/103
Scientists with an H index of 5 and above (400) 4000
U of Peradeniya U of Colombo U of Kelaniya U of Sri JP U of Moratuwa U of Jaffna
Who is Managing Research in Higher Seats of Learning?
• University Industry Cells (University of Moratuwa, University of Peradeniya)
• National Research Cadre??????• Reward & Place Scientists in a Tier System• Based on a In Put-Out Put System
There has been an increase in University S & T recruitments In recent times• Production of local Ph.Ds (UOP/SLINTEC produced 5 Ph.Ds in Nanotechnology; UoW 4 • Increase in the number of Ph.D. returnees from abroad
7 Ph.Ds in 2008 21 Ph.Ds in 2015SLINTEC
S & T outcomes of other traditional universities remain low
IFSChemistry UOP
Natural Products 1975-1985 Solar Energy 1985-2005
Investment in S & T Infrastructure & Equipment
No National Policy for providing Equipment to the Universities
Intellectual Property ScenarioUniversities & Research Institutes – Very Few Patents
SLINTEC Model Radically Different to Other Research Organizations• First Five Patents Filed Within Ten Months of Research (2010)• Two in Nanofertilizer Systems Were Sold in 2012• Stage-gated Expansion Based on Successes• SLINTEC has filed 11 patents (4 sold)• Two in National Phase Filing (16 Countries)• One in National Phase Filing (6 Countries)
Industry Readiness for Research & CommercializationCommodity Mindset to a “Smart” Nation
Sri Lankan Industry is Risk Averse:Innovavations slow to arrive
High Tech Exports are at 0.9% (South Asian Average 6%)
Your text here
Classic Stalemate
SLINTEC Research Partners
Commercialization
?
Nano-photocatalytic hospital Infection Control System – Developed and Engineered in SL (approvedBy the Indian Medial Association
Strategic Research & Innovation Focus Areas at SLINTEC
Agriculture Water Purification Apparel Healthcare Mineral Resources
Advanced Programmes
Advanced Plant Nutrients,
Fertilizers & Agrochemicals
Nano-composites, Nano-sorbents,
Nanoparticles, Nano-membranes
Smart Textiles Nutraceuticals
High Value Mineral Processing
Synthetic Chemistry, Biology
andNanomedicine
Slow release Nano-Fertilizer
Nanomaterials for water purification
Textiles for Wellbeing Turmeric
Anti-BacterialAnti – OxidantAnti - Cancer
Titanium Dioxide (TiO2)
and Titanium from Ilmenite
Active Pharmaceutical
Ingredients (APIs) for high value
drugs
Targeted Plant Nutrient Release
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs)/graphene for water purification
Textiles for Water and Energy Conservation
Manioc
Anti–CancerRare Earth Oxides
from Monazite
Synthesis of new agrochemicals
Integrated Plant Nutrient Systems
Electrochemical methods for water purification
Electronic textiles/garments
Cinnamon
Alleviation of Diabetes
Montmorillonite (MMT nanoclay)
from
Biological pathways for
complex molecule natural medicines
Targeted Release of Pesticides and Insecticides
Sensors for testing water quality
Functional sports wear
Basil (maduru thala)Anti - fungalAnti -Cancer
Graphene and Graphite Oxide from
Graphite
Controlled and targeted drug
release
UoP/ITI/IFS/UoW
UoP/UoC
UoP/IFS/UoW
Solar Energy: IFS/UoWUoJ
Development & Pilot Plants: SLINTEC Efforts
The road we have long been traveling is deceptively easy, a smooth superhighway on which we progress with great speed, but at its end lies disaster. The other fork of the road / the one less traveled by offers our last, our only chance to reach a destination that assures our preservation.
0.15 %...................0.9%