Sri Lanka Inventors Commission Proposed Strategic Plan
2012-2014
National Vision
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“ the people of our country are now awaiting the victory in the ‘economic war’ in a manner similar to our victory in the war against terrorism”
“over the next six years, I will dedicate myself to increase our per capita income to well above US $ 4,000, thereby placing our country in the ranks of middle income nations”
Mahinda Chintana- Vision for the Future
SLIC Corporate Plan 2012-2014
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“Innovative entrepreneurs, with their new products, new processes, new markets, and novel approaches to putting inventions to effective use, are key to an economy's long-term growth”. WILLIAM J. BAUMOL, PH.D. Senior Advisor, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation; Harold Price Professor of
Entrepreneurship and Academic Director, Berkley Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, New York University; Senior Economist and Professor Emeritus, Princeton University
SLIC Corporate Plan 2012-2014
Vision
To be the hub of harnessing and promoting innovative skills of Sri Lankans in providing impetus for socio economic development and nation building through inventions and innovations.
Vision simplified
Prosperity through Inventions and Innovations Nava nipeum thanana deyak,yasa isurin prunu
hetak kj ksmehQï ;kk oehla hi biqßka msreKQ fyglA
Mission
Be the leading catalyst in bringing out innovative capability of the nation
Be a forerunner of the facilitation process in converting ideas in to practical applications
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Our values Inventors will perceive us to be
proactive ,supportive Government- as the resource provider will
see us as result oriented well managed institution.
Public- will see us as a useful people friendly government institution
Staff- we will be a team committed to the cause of promoting inventiveness in the society
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Preamble
Superior inventions and innovations supported by stronger branding can demand a premium in the market place. Nations with such products/brands enjoy higher economic benefits.
In order to increase the probability of developing winning products and solutions the total number of experimentation must be increased.
Therefore the efforts of SLIC should stimulate increasing the number of experiments thus increasing the chance of coming up with successful products.
Inventions are done by individuals who have the capability to observe a problem or an opportunity and come up with a technical solution for that. This is a process with many steps as given in the following diagramme.
The Process of Innovation to Commercialization
OBSERVATION
TECHNOLOGY INTERVENTION
PROMOTION
The Key Three Steps of Innovation to Commercialization
The activities of SLIC therefore has to increase the incidence at all these stages.
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OpportunitiesPost War Sri Lanka is poised to take greatStrides in the economic fronts. This will Provide opportunities for inventors to find markets For their inventions and possible investors
ThreatsIncreasing globalisation and regional
trade agreements will challenge the
viability of non competitive products and services
made locally
StrengthsSLIC has a established frame work for operationThere is a team of experienced and committed Staff who are familiar with the processes, challenges, and opportunities
WeaknessesAbsence of a full time CEO for the
organisationKey positioned not being filled yet
Inadequate private sector partnershipThe organisation functions as a
commission
SLIC Corporate Plan 2012-2014
Board of the Commission
Organizational Structure/Human Resources
Commissioner
Assistant Commissioner(02)
Treasury Representative(01)
SLIC Corporate Plan 2012-201412
Executive Summary Incorporated by Sri Lanka Inventors Incentives Act, No
75 of 1979 Sri Lanka Inventors Commission is expected to encourage the making or creation of inventions by citizens of Sri Lanka and to give technical financial and legal assistance to inventors among its main objectives. The net outcome of these is to increase the number of inventions that are commercialized thus contributing to the national economy. Having studied the process leading to these outcomes this strategic plan is developed basing the three areas of Observation, Technology intervention and Promotion as its cornerstones. Every strategy will be linked to one or more of these strategic thrust areas*.The functions of the commission according to the Act can be linked to these thrust areas. The commission expects as a result of these integrated activities the number of patent applications to increase by 25% and the number of commercialized patents to increase by 5%over the plan period. There are seven key strategies directly linked to the key outcomes while three are linked to the organisational effectiveness.
year RecurrentRs in Mn.
Capital Rs Mn
TotalRs Mn
2011 20 40 60
2012 33 199 232
2013 50 219 269
2014 70 243 313
year No of patent applications (Resident)
Issued patents(Resident)
Commercialization
2011-up to August
133 43
2012 250 150 10
2013 325 250 15 - 20
2014 450 400 30 - 50
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Key strategies:-1. Re position presidential awards aligning them to national development goals2. “Sahasak Nimevum” national exhibition and inventions month to widespread innovative culture3. Revitalize school level programmes leveraging the power of electronic media4. Facilitate greater access to funds and to private sector for inventors.5. Empower inventors through provision of knowledge and access to expertise 6. Web strategy as a key enabler7. International recognition for our inventors8. Update the act to reflect the needs of the day9. Capability development of the staff10.Strong governance framework
SLIC Corporate Plan 2012-2014
* Relevant thrust area is given along each strategy by using O,T.P
Strategy O T P Ref to functions of the act
Reposition presidential awards aligning them to national development goals
√ √ √ 11f
“Sahasak Nimevum” national exhibition and innovations month to widespread innovative culture
√ √ √ 11h
Revitalize school programmes leveraging the power of electronic media
√ √ 11l
Facilitate greater access to funds and to private sector to inventors
√ 11b,11d,11e
Empower inventors through provision of knowledge and access to expertise
√ 11a, 11c,11g,11j
Web strategy as a key enabler √ √ √ 11i
International recognition for our inventors √ √ √ 11k
Executive Summary (Cont..)
PromotionTechnology Intervention
Observation
“Innovation itself is not enough…It is wasted money
unless it solves consumer problems”
sanjay jha Motorola
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Strategies and Broad Action Plans
The reference number given against key areas are the corresponding numbers given in the act as
objects of the commission
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Key Performance Indicators
Ref
Description Measure 2012 2013 2014Rs. in Mn
11 a
11c
Give tech assistance and help prepare patent applications
Render legal assistance in filing patent applications
Number of patent applications supported
5 6 7
11b
Granting financial assistance Number of grants and amounts 20+10
0(*Inventors Fund)
25+100
30 +10011
dRecommend to lending institutions Number of such
recommendations and amounts
11e
Help market inventions Number and volumes 12 15 20
11f Presidential Awards Number of winners33.5 37 4211
hPromote inventiveness and creativity Number of events
organized and the number of products developed
11g
Establishment of inventions laboratory
Availability of a facility 1 2 317 SLIC Corporate Plan 2012-2014
Key Performance Indicators- ctdRef Description Measure 2012 2013
2014Rs.in Mn
11-i Publish and disseminate information about inventions and researches and science
Number of such publications / events
3 4 5
11j Hold regular monthly sessions
Number of such events and number participated
5 6 7
11K Join international competitions
Number participatedAwards won
8 10 12
11l Organize creative societies in schools
Number of such societies Outcomes from those
10 12 14
Staff development activities Number of training programmes conducted/participated
1.5 2 3
Total 199
219 24318
* A separate budget proposal will be submitted to convert Inventors Fund in to a Venture Capital Fund. The money will be requested only up to the year 2014 from the Treasury to raise the fund
SLIC Corporate Plan 2012-2014
Strategy 1.(O T P) Reposition Presidential Awards aligning them to the national development goals and important strategic sectors
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11 F Presidential Awards
Introduce a two tier selection process and seek change act to broadbase the number of judges
Change the definitions given in the act which are discipline oriented to impact or target consumer benefit focused. Reflecting the emerging trends in technology integration.
Public and Private sector organizations that can demonstrate more than 25% of growth in profitability or turnover as a result of any innovation undertaken or by commercialization of an invention such organizations to be recognized at the presidential awards.
Recognize electronic and print media who have significantly promoted the cause of innovation and inventions.
Announce information about focus areas at the preceding years awards ceremony
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Focus Areas for Presidential Awards
Solutions to make Disabled Persons Independent- Persons who are limited to function as expected due to various difficulties resulting from Aging, War, Accidents, Diseases and Congenital situations need to be provided with solutions to be independent to improve their quality of life.
Inventions to enhance teaching of science maths and technology- There may be many teachers who use inventions to help improve learning experience of students. This is important to encourage more cost effective ways to teach these subjects and enhance the application capability of students. ( This may be a category to consider without patents ? )
Inventions that provide solutions to health problems. There is great potential in developing herbal solutions for various health issues
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Focus Areas for presidential awards
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Import substitutions- any invention that has proven or has potential to substitute imports must be recognized. Here the importance should be given to solutions of comparable quality and effectiveness.
Solutions to improve productivity at home- family unit is the primary economic entity. Any solution to reduce expenses, improve productivity, offer ways to enhance income of households or quality of life
Move Up the value Chain- solutions to move any produce up the value chain, more than pure value adding should be recognized
Agriculture- solutions to improve productivity of agriculture and farming thus improving the profitability, productivity of those activities
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Strategy 2 (O T P) “Sahasak Nimevum” national exhibition and inventions month to widespread innovative culture.
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11h Promote inventiveness and creativity
Sahasak Nimevum – Thousand Creations national exhibition. Conduct an annual exhibition of inventions and
innovations under the following categories Patented inventions and innovations Inventions with utility value Creative inventions
School level Junior- Senior University level Technical Colleges Organisational level Independent inventors Ideas – where simulations of futuristic products and services
can be displayed
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11h -11L to promote inventiveness + school level activities
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Declare a month as the “ National Inventors Month” and consolidate activities such as the National Exhibition, Presidential Awards, Forum for Inventors and inventor investor meetings during this month so that the impact from the money spent can be maximized.
The National Exhibition to be named “ sahasak nimevum” ( iyilA ksuejqï ) Thousand inventions
Seek institutional sponsorships for various segments of the event thus reducing the burden on SLIC
The best 100 selected by a panel and the visitors to be recognized
Explore the possibility of taking those to regions to conduct regional exhibitions- or conduct regional exhibitions to select best for the national
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Strategy 3 ( O T ) Revitalize school level programmes leveraging the power of electronic media, and leverage the reach of school level inventors clubs to identify grass root inventions and innovations.
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11h -11L to promote inventiveness + school level activities Revitalize the school level programme by establishing “
Prathibha” the inventors club using TV medium. This way the limited resources of the commission can be leveraged better. One school club can be shown in this TV programme every week .
Provide a manual for schools to be down loaded from the SLIC web site on how to organize an inventors club.
Encourage schools to have inter house competitions for inventions.
Propose the UGC to give recognition to the winners of national level awards for inventions when they seek university admissions.
Promote the concepts at the private schools as well. Leverage the web and social media to feature school
level creations.27 04/19/2327 SLIC Corporate Plan 2012-2014
11h -11L to promote inventiveness + school level activities Recognize Gras root Inventions: Through the school level clubs, vidatha
centres, media correspondents identify rural level inventions, document them and where appropriate help them commercialize otherwise popularise them
Teach Creativity- propose education authorities to introduce creativity as a skill, explore the possibility of making Edward De Borno’s work translated in to Sinhala and Tamil.
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Strategy 4 ( P) Facilitate greater access to funds and to
private sector for inventors.
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11b Granting Financial Assistance.11d Recommend Lending Institutions Set up a robust internal process to select potential
candidates to receive such financial grants and have in place a suitable legal agreement framework that protects the interests of the commission
Establish incubators with selected universities that demonstrate a strong track record for developing innovations and provide financial assistance through the incubator system.
Partner with Post Graduate Institutes where MBA students can be linked with inventors who need business management skills in developing project reports etc to go for funding options either from lending institutions or from potential investors.
Explore the possibility of private sector partnership model to make the Sri Lanka Inventors Fund a true venture capital fund.
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11b Granting financial Assistance. Seek LKR 100 Million seed capital to set up
the Inventors Fund. The fund should be able to take an Equity
Stake in the eventual business and then sell out at the right time with a capital gain.
Explore the possibility of private sector organisations to sponsor inventors as a part of their CSR initiatives.
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Strategy 5 (P) Empower inventors through provision of knowledge and access to expertise
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11,a- 11 c- Support in patents.
The commission should while developing internal capability take leadership in broad basing patent writing consultancy capability across the country in partnership with the Sri Lanka Patent Office Develop a guide book as an e book in E/S/T that
can be easily downloadable from the SLIC web site Conduct programmes to impart knowledge on how
to write patents and encourage professionals with technical background to learn this.
During the annual inventor forums educate them on the subject.
11e help market inventions
Educate inventors on how to recognize opportunities with market potentials when embarking on projects with a commercial objective by providing such information in the web site and during annual investor symposium. ( sometimes inventions happen and subsequently become marketable products such as Post it Pads. But this is the exception than the norm)
Establish regular communication links with the Chambers of Commerce to introduce inventors
Provide a base through the SLIC web site whereby the organisations with problems can contact inventors who can give solutions thus help them market their core competency.
MBA partnering programme Provide a model legal agreement and guide lines as to how the
inventors can protect their IP when negotiating with potential investors
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11 G Inventors laboratory
Instead of setting up a separate laboratory it is proposed that SLIC signs MOUs with the different research labs available within the government agencies to provide such facilities to the inventors recommended by the commission on pre agreed cost reimbursement basis.
Develop a suitable agreement that binds the research lab to protect the IP of the inventor and for the inventor to reimburse such costs once the project commercialized
11-j Monthly sessions ( since this is not viable annual sessions and web based blogging and such social media will be used) Annual National Inventors' Convention
Target Audience – Potential and existing inventors Topics to be covered:-
The road from an idea to commercially viable proposition
The pitfalls to avoid How to protect IP Commercialization options- do it self or sell the idea How to look after the commercial interest How to negotiate Success stories and learnings from entrepreneurs
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Strategy 6 (O T P)
. Web strategy as a key enabler while leveraging other media as well to promote inventions and innovations
11-i dissemination – WEB STRATEGY The web site to include the following in addition to
the regular information Video clips of inventions A forum for inventors to blog Buyer Seller mart where companies host their problems
seeking solutions from inventors and inventors to showcase their capabilities
Information about thrust areas Down loadable instructions on IP applications, school
clubs Information and links to international inventors
organisations Links to tech web sites that give latest news in the areas Reverse auction for transparent tender procedure
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11-i dissemination
Request every TV station to feature local inventors on a regular basis and to consider showing new inventions from around the world
Request the print media organisations to feature prominently the local inventors and their stories and to show case international case studies
Hold an annual national inventors convention
11-i dissemination – web strategy
The SLIC web site to be developed using open source technology the preferred tech platform by ICT
Develop internal capability to manage the web site Web site to be bench marked against international
web sites In addition to the standard features to include forums
for discussions, ability to upload through You Tube Social media linkage so that the ideas can be spread
fast Provide links to selected sites such as TED.COM Have an e mail data base of local inventors ( The commission has already secured a domain
address )
Strategy 7 ( O T P)
. International recognition for our inventors
11k International Competitions Research to find out what the available international
competitions are and the requirements for participations Give publicity to such opportunities through the web site, e
mails and through mass media where appropriate Develop a transparent and robust selection process if SLIC
to support financially Introduce a structured experience sharing system by the
participants on their return from overseas competitions, by way of publishing their stories through media and web site as well
Link up with international organisations for best practice transfer
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2014 international inventors event (OTP)
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Plan to organize an international inventors event in Sri Lanka .
SLIC Corporate Plan 2012-2014
Strategy 8 ( O P ) Update the act to reflect the needs of the day
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Review the legal form of the commission to evaluate whether this needs to be converted to an authority for greater effectiveness
Propose the needed amendments to the act to reflect the needs of the times such as the award categories, functions, selection of judges for the presidential awards. Structure of the commission by facilitating greater interaction with leading trade chambers.
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Strategy 9 Capability development of the staff
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Staff
There are a number of key vacancies that need to be filled immediately for the commission to function.
Since most of the activities of the commission are of project nature, a matrix organisation is ideally suited. An attempt will be made to leverage the commitment and capability of the existing staff to deliver the objectives using this approach where one person to lead the project and a number of others to support.
( The first workshop for the staff was already conducted. This was sponsored by AVIVANDB Insurance PLC )
The staff will be educated on the topic of invention by encouraging them to seek latest news via internet
Staff- capability development
Encourage them to develop language Skills in English and Tamil
Improve presentation skills Personal development plans
Strategy 10
Establish a strong and robust governance frame work
Governance The Secretary of the commission to be clearly
identified as the CEO of the organisation. The Strategic plan approved by the Hon
Minister to be implemented through the organsation by the CEO and the Staff.
The commission to monitor progress and provide direction.
Monthly meetings of the commission to review progress of the implementation of the strategic plan and the compliance with applicable regulations.
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Internal Processes
Prepare written procedures for internal work processes using flow charts and specifying standards where applicable.
Introduce 5S system to make the office efficient and be in a more organized manner prior moving in to the new office.
Ensure effective utilization of physical assets of the commission
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Expected outcome.
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Year 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Number of applications for competitions
- 150 500 750 1000
Number of participants at competitions
- 150 500 750 1000
Number participants at exhibitions
- 2000 3000 4000
Number of participants at International competitions and number of awards
- 1010
1515
2020
No of commercializations
10 15-20 30-50
Number of School Inventors Clubs
1000(active)
1000(active)
1500 2000 3000
Number of assignments to inventors by companies
20 50 100SLIC Corporate Plan 2012-2014