Report
APCTT, in cooperation with the National
Science Foundation and the National
Engineering Research and Development
Centre, supported by the Korea Research
Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology
(KRIBB) organized the BINASIA Sri
Lanka National Workshop in Colombo,
Sri Lanka on 6 and 7 April 2005. The
workshop was attended by more than
70 participants mainly from the R&D
community. Prof. Tissa Vitarana, Honorable
Minister for Science and Technology,
Government of Sri Lanka delivered
the Key-Note address. The Minister
highlighted the importance and potential
of biotechnology in the emerging era
of knowledge-based economy. He called
upon the research community to develop
biotechnologies that are suitable
to Sri Lanka and to address various
issues associated with its possible
impact on the environment.
During the First Session on the Role
of Government in the Development and
Transfer of Biotechnology, experts
from Sri Lanka presented the initiatives
taken by the Government for the development
and promotion of biotechnology and
the national biosafety policy. Participants
deliberated at length, the various
aspects of bioethics. The Second Session
included presentation of country papers
from India, Thailand, China, Korea
and Sri Lanka followed by a panel
discussion on Biotechnology Development:
Opportunities and Challenges. KRIBB
shared its experiences on its international
cooperation and technology transfer.
The Third Session covered various
aspects of Technology Transfer and
Innovation Management. Two successful
technology transfer case studies of
Sri Lanka were presented and discussed
on the lessons learnt. IPR issues
related to biotechnology was deliberated
at length, followed by the presentation
of BINASIA website. While presenting
the website, APCTT emphasized on the
active participation of biotechnology
stakeholders for the success of BINASIA.
An electronic version of the website
content-questionaire was made available
to the participants to provide their
input for the website. BINASIA national
focal point would use the content-questionnaire
to develop contents for the Sri Lanka
section of the website.
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