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%)

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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.

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