National Innovation Agency Bill to be presented in Parliament tomorrow

The National Innovation Agency Bill is to be presented in Parliament tomorrow (Nov 07) inclusive of the recommendation with regards to the national policies on innovation. 

According to a statement released by the Parliament's Communication Department, the National Innovation Agency will be established as a corporation to seek private sector support for innovation, to contribute to national research, to identify barriers to innovation.

The National Innovation Agency is administered by a Governing Council and the chairperson of the council shall be the Secretary to the President.

Other members include, a high ranking official of the Ministry of the Minister assigned the subject of Development Strategies, Director General of the National Planning Department or his nominee, Director General of the Intellectual Property Office of Sri Lanka, a high ranking official of the Ministry of the Minister assigned the subject of Science, a high ranking official of the Ministry of the Minister assigned the subject of Technology and Research and a high ranking official of the Ministry of the Minister assigned the subject of International Trade and the Chairperson or his nominee of the Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology, the statement said.

The Governing Council shall act in accordance with the directions of the President from time to time. Also, the President makes orders on matters contained in this Act. Every order shall be published in the Gazette and presented to the Parliament for approval within three months.

The agency will be responsible for maintaining a national innovation environment in line with the innovative entrepreneurship strategy and facilitating high technology enterprises generated by Research and Technology Interchange and coordinating with the private and public sector, the statement said.