CCC and AHEAD join hands to promote new food products and processes
View(s):The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and the Accelerating Higher Education Expansion and Development (AHEAD) Operation jointly organised a first ever virtual exhibition to promote food sector innovations ready for commercialisation in February this year.
The World- Bank funded AHEAD operation supports universities in Sri Lanka to promote innovations to the private sector through its University Business Linkage cells (UBLs).
Twelve universities–including the Eastern University, University of Kelaniya, South Eastern University, Rajarata University, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Uva Wellassa University, University of Colombo, University of Jaffa, Sabaragamuwa University, Wayamba University, Open University, University of Peradeniya, University of Ruhuna and a non-state Higher Education Institution, which is Kaatsu International University (KIU)–presented a wide range of innovative food products to more than 100 private sector companies at a virtual exhibition last month.
AHEAD is an operation under the Education Ministry financed by the World Bank where the objective is to develop the higher education sector in the country. According to Prof. Thusitha Abeytunga, a lead academic expert of the AHEAD operation, a focus area of improvement was research, development, innovation and commercialisation.
“The lack of connection between universities and private sector was identified as a major gap in the Sri Lankan higher education system in this regard. Intellectual property generated in universities should be of benefit to society, and university research should fit the requirements of industries,” Prof. Abeytunga said.
As an initiative to address this gap, under Results area 3 of AHEAD operation, UBLs were established in all 15 state universities. These UBLs act as technology transfer offices and connect universities with outside parties to disseminate and commercialise research outcomes. AHEAD also works with six non-state higher education institutions (HEIs) and contributed to establish Society Linkage cells (HEI-SL cells), which function similar to the UBLs.
These UBLs/HEI-SL cells link academics with the private sector. UBLS/HEI-SL Cells help university researchers find suitable industry partners to commercialise the products or processes developed. Industries can also approach UBLs to get academic expertise to develop new products and processes.
“The final outcomes of all these commercialisation activities should bring win-win situations to both the university and the private party involved,” Prof. Abeytunga said.
Universities, the operation plans, will reinvest the revenue generated through commercialisation to further strengthen the research culture. Industries are expected to save significant amounts of time, effort and money invested on R&D and to produce quality products to the local and international markets.
“These long-lasting and trustworthy connections eventually lead to the development of entire university system, the industries and ultimately the society,” Prof. Abeytunga said.
The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) joined hands with AHEAD to support commercialisation of university research outcomes. The CCC was invited to the UBL/UGC standing committee meeting which gather every other month to address issues UBL/HEI-SL cells encounter and to make decisions required for the development of the UBL/HEI-SL cells. As the CCC represents a large number of industries, its contribution is expected to make a significant impact to build a strong network of companies which are willing to work with universities.
- Tharushi Weerasinghe