President to open Sri Lanka’s first Nanotechnology Centre of Excellence

President Mahinda Rajapaksa will open Sri Lankas first Nanotechnology Centre of Excellence (NCE), the nucleus of a world-class Nanotechnology Park spread across 50-acres at Pitipana, Homagama today.

The flagship initiative is developed and managed by the Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology (SLINTEC) a private-public partnership.

It is funded by the government and several private sector organisations. The government has invested Rs. 1771.5 million and the private sector, comprising MAS, Brandix, Dialog, Haleys, Loadstar has contributed Rs. 310 million so far. Lankem also joined the initiative recently.

According to SLINTEC sources, the Park creates opportunities for all businesses to develop new products through a collaborative innovation process, taking them from research through development toward commercialisation. The foundation for this framework is the Nanotechnology Centre of Excellence (NCE), which marks the first phase of the development of the Park.

The Park is set up to be an open canvas, a framework of support ensuring that companies are able to drive innovation with unencumbered focus and precision.

The Nanotechnology Park will enable companies, organisations and institutes to invest and develop their research centres, incubation facilities and pilot plants within the environment of an Advanced Science and Technology Park. Companies will have access to high-end research equipment and instruments as well as highly-specialised scientists and researchers at the NCE.

SLINTEC intends to provide maximum tax benefits for specialists and experts working in Nanotechnology and the maximum incentives for companies to set up facilities at the Nanotechnology Park and invest in Nanotechnology R&D in Sri Lanka. These incentives along with the environment of open innovation and access to the NCE will give any company or institute a considerable advantage.

In addition to the open innovation framework offered by the NCE, the Park will include satellite offices from leading organisations in law, accounting, marketing, procurement and logistics. The services are geared to enable companies to move forward with their research, product development and commercialisation with minimal delays and maximum convenience. The nucleus of the this endeavor, the NCE will offer a wide range of essential centralised services that enables the hub and spoke concept driving operations across the Park. Most land in the Park is reserved as tenant development areas dedicated for incubation, corporate research and business development centers, pilot plants and start-up companies.

According to Technology and Research Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, the vision behind the move is to position Sri Lanka as a leading destination for nanotechnology research and development by creating a world class innovation platform and contributing significantly to national economic development.

SLINTEC has acquired eight international patents and two local patents and they intend to make use of them to make the initiative commercially viable in the future.