The National Innovation Agency (NIA) successfully concluded a two‑day capacity‑building workshop under its flagship “Research into Rupees” series, bringing together over 150 researchers, scientists, technology transfer professionals, and innovation practitioners from 27 research institutions under the Department of Agriculture.
Held on 22 and 23 July 2026 in Kandy, the programme focused on technology transfer, intellectual property management, and research commercialization, equipping participants with practical tools to transform research outcomes into market‑ready products and services that contribute to national economic growth.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. W.A.R.T. Wickramaarachchi, Director General of the Department of Agriculture, stressed the importance of protecting and commercializing publicly funded research.
He announced the establishment of a dedicated Institute Business Linkage (IBL) Unit under the NIA’s initiative, alongside the development of an Institutional IP and Commercialization Policy to strengthen industry engagement.
At the inauguration, Professor W.M.T. Madhujith, Vice Chancellor of the University of Peradeniya, highlighted the need to bridge the gap between research institutions and industry, noting that discoveries achieve their greatest impact when translated into innovations that benefit society and the economy.
Dr. Muditha Senarath Yapa, Chief Innovation Officer of NIA, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to building a robust national innovation ecosystem. He emphasized that Sri Lanka holds a wealth of valuable research and that programmes such as Research into Rupees provide researchers with the knowledge, networks, and pathways to transform ideas into sustainable enterprises.
The workshop featured expert sessions on patent strategies, technology valuation, licensing, commercialization pathways, and industry collaboration, alongside interactive discussions on practical approaches to converting research outputs into innovations with commercial and societal value.
This initiative forms part of NIA’s broader efforts to strengthen innovation capacity across Sri Lanka’s research and higher education sectors, fostering collaboration between academia, government, and industry. By empowering researchers with commercialization skills and institutional support, the programme aims to accelerate the journey from research to marketplace, driving economic growth, agricultural productivity, and a more innovation‑driven nation. (Newswire)
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