Think out of the box - Minister Ranawaka

Our children have knowledge and are intelligent, but what is lacking is innovativeness and creativeness, said Technology and Research Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka at the opening of the Inter University Innovations Championship 2013 Finals.

It was sponsored by SLASSCOM and Motorola Solutions.

"We need to think out of the box to be innovative. The main weakness of the free education is the highly competitive nature which leads the children to learn by heart rather than understanding basic theories. Lack of basic knowledge turns children into 'machines' lacking creativity," he said.

The Minister said that if we take a closer look at the variety of public funded research work that has been undertaken in Sri Lanka during recent years the findings may not perhaps be too exciting. You will find a handful of research with the potential of being directly translated into products and services of either economic or societal benefit.

"What kind of tangible socio-economic benefits could seemingly brilliant innovation; creation and research proposition potentially yield?," he queried.

"Unfortunately, 'Science for the sake of Science', 'Research for the sake of Research' and 'Innovation for the sake of Innovation', are not common luxuries that our humble tight budgets could permit," Ranawaka said.

"One of our focuses should be on strengthening SMEs. One aspect of such strengthening would be the technological innovations led by research and development.

My message to the scientific community is that 'it is the scientists and engineers who can provide the vital and decisive impetus that the economic development of the country needs in terms of technology-led innovations," he said.

US Ambassador for Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Michele J Sison, who was the guest of honour said, "It only makes sense that Motorola Solutions sponsors a challenge dedicated to innovation and research. Eighty five years ago, the company that would become Motorola was founded in Chicago, Illinois and since that time Motorola has been at the forefront of cutting-edge technologies.

The young inventor Bill Lear created the world's first car radio - bringing entertainment to a newly-popular mode of transportation," she said.

Motorola developed the first walkie-talkie and the radio that astronaut Neil Armstrong used to narrate his "one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind" from the lunar surface. Motorola even created the world's first commercial portable cell phone, Sison said.

"The US State Department is wholeheartedly committed to encouraging innovation and research throughout the world. Entrepreneurship is a core American value," the ambassador said.

The world will need about half a billion new jobs by 2030, and many of those jobs have not even been invented yet. To meet this demand we need openness of ideas that promote innovation and research, especially by youth and students, she said.

"Humans are always innovating. It doesn't matter whether you live in Silicon Valley or in Sri Lanka. There are no 'pre-qualifications' for great ideas. Capital finds a way to fund them. That is what makes innovation and entrepreneurship such powerful catalysts for change in every country," Sison said.

Moreover, given the right environment - just as Motorola Solutions and SLASSCOM have provided - we have seen the power of partnerships and training in sparking creativity, the Ambassador said.

Collaboration between government, academia, and private sector is embodied by this gathering today. This 'collective genius' will be paramount in promoting research and developing solutions for a better world tomorrow.

One example of a 'collective genius' project is the US State Department's collaboration with NASA, Nike, and USAID to create LAUNCH, an initiative aimed at fostering sustainable, accessible, and empowering ideas and converting these ideas into action, she said.

"In 2013, LAUNCH hosted its first competition, directed at university students from all over the world that focused on creating more sustainable fabric-recycling systems.Explore the LAUNCH website for the results and bring your own innovative ideas onto a global stage," the ambassador said.

The US Embassy, Colombo is also dedicated to ensure that all Sri Lankans know how to harness technology to promote innovation.

The high standard of competition at this event exhibits young Sri Lankan talent and potential for innovation. Sri Lankan students have demonstrated their potential for success in the business world, she said.

Motorola Solutions Director and Country Manager for Sri Lanka, Anuradha Tennakoon said, "This competition, first launched in 2010, has gone through a 300% growth in participation during a short period of four years.

This competition has no boundaries. It is open to State and private sector higher educational institutes."

"More than a competition, this is a totally new educational experience outside the University curriculum for our undergraduates," he said.

"The event totally funded by Motorola Solutions Foundation, the independent philanthropic arm of Motorola Solutions provides strategic grants, fosters innovation and engages stakeholders to make the communities where Motorola Solutions operates safer and better educated," Tennakoon said.

Vice Chairman, SLASSCOM and President and CEO, IFS Sri Lanka, Jayantha de Silva said that IT and BPM is perhaps the fastest growing industry segment in Sri Lanka today.

He said, "Sri Lanka being selected as the "Outsourcing Destination of the Year in 2013, has proved that we have enormous potential for growth and SLASSCOM has made a Road Map to move the IT and BPM industry to be the highest export revenue earner from current fifth place, to set up 1,000 start up companies and to increase the direct employment level to 200,000 from 67,000 by 2022.

The results:

First place: Exercise motivation system - Uva Wellassa University (H.M.A.U. Bandara, W.M.S. Priyankara, P.B. Wilebadaarachchi, P.G.N.S.S. Pilapitiya).

Second place: Automated Guided Wheelchair - University of Colombo School of Computing (Yasith Lokuge, Prashan Madumal, Tharindu Kumara and N. Ranasinghe).

Third place: A one-click public assistance system - University of Jaffna (H. Mohammed Rajjaz, R Miller Alexander, M.I.M. Nifras, Vigneswaran Saahithyan, A. Harshani Samaraweera).