INNOTECH - 2020

Innotech 2020 - An Exhibition organized by the Ministry of Higher Education, Technology and Innovations

The Ministry of Higher Education, Technology and Innovation (MHETI) and State Ministry of Technology and Innovation (SMTI) is engaged in various Research and Development initiatives in collaboration with Government Research Institutes (GRI), Universities under the purview of the Ministry and with private sector collaboration. These initiatives are focused towards various economic sectors including agriculture, health, environment, water, etc. In order to compete with global and regional growth in the field of technological development, the MHETI and SMTI together with its Institutes and universities is currently focused on promoting R & D in advanced, disruptive and modern technologies such as nanotechnology, robotics , industrial automation, biotechnology, genomic science, artificial intelligence etc. It is envisaged that by adopting advanced and disruptive technologies in R & D, the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) sector can triple its contribution towards GDP.
Although the Ministry and its Institutes are closely engaged in R & D related to important
economic sectors, the knowledge created and product developed as a result of R & D are not communicated /disseminated to relevant target groups and not benefitted especially by industry and entrepreneurs and general public at large. There is a considerable gap between the knowledge created and its application at ground level. With the advancement of technologies globally, it is important that Sri Lanka creates an enabling environment for the STI sector to compete globally and to create a knowledge sharing platform so that all segments of society specially schools, universities, private sector, inventors, entrepreneurs etc. will be part of this. Having such an enabling environment will facilitate achieving the objectives of having a technology based society as highlighted in the Vistas of Prosperity; the current National Policy Framework.

Objectives
In this context, the Ministry intends to organize an exhibition i.e. INNOTECH 2020 with the main objectives of showcasing research and development outcomes and innovations of the institutes and universities operating under the purview of the Ministry and promoting science literacy at all levels of the society. The proposed Exhibition will also be a platform for school and university students, tertiary and higher educational institutions to popularize their inventions and create enthusiasm amongst younger generation to engage in science and initiate startups based on new inventions and innovations. In addition R & D outcomes and inventions of Triforces and Police will also be exhibited during the exhibition.