Techno-cities to deliver tech enhancement

Techno-cities to deliver tech enhancement



With the first phase of the techno-city launched last month, the Government believes that the rapid infrastructure development efforts targeting scientific research will enable a more conducive environment for the growth of the technology sector of the country.

“Once the spatial transformation happens the high-tech input needed in structural transformation of our economy will certainly follow. untitled-2

The geographic concentration of high tech facilities and industries in a single geographic zone will start delivering its dividends. The high tech component of our economy will also grow,” said Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka in his address at the annual sessions of the Institute of Engineers, Sri Lanka.

The scientific and industrial zones will be complemented with its own schools and quality healthcare facilities to attract professionals and their families away from the generally convenient cities. ”Engineers and other professional working in these zones will have the environment for productivity, contributing their maximum output to the economy. They will not need to worry about sending students to a good school two hours away without having to travel with probably half a days’ leave” said Ranawaka.

The Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies is one of the institutions that is already inline to set up at the newly launched techno-city in Pitipana, Homagama, according to Ranawaka. The institute will be primarily working on creating a space hub for receiving, distribution and transformation of satellite data. Sri Lankan universities would also to be part of this initiative with the Universities of Sri Jayewardenepura and Kelaniya to set up two new engineering faculties at the proposed science park, which will be established by the Ministry of Science and Technology and Research.

According to Ranawaka the science park and tech cities are developed as eco systems for scientific research. “Advanced technology is a broad term which applies to diverse domains. However they are core-technologies that are instrumental in driving the rapid technological gains which could propel high tech industries that impacts a diverse spectrum of other disciplines. As a result they boost the overall base of national capabilities of advanced technology.”

Nanotechnology, biotechnology, robotics and automation, ICT, advanced electronics and gene technology are some of the core technologies that would have research centres in the tech-cities, according to Government plans.