The Science, Technology and Innovation Discourse in Sri Lanka

This chapter will examine the role the development of IP policy has played in science, technology and innovation (STI) in Sri Lanka. Aligning with Chaps. 3 and 4 STI discourse too favours a low-technology protection because, STI indicators remain relatively low compared to develop countries. As a result, most public sector ST innovations which are patented at all in Sri Lanka are developed using basic research which is considered low-technology, rather than on applied or demand driven research, which aims for the commercialisation of high technology commonly by licencing or patenting with industry. Furthermore, it seems Sri Lanka’s IP policy fails to attract foreign investment and the local access to high technology it should bring with it if it is appropriately embraced and regulated. This chapter consists of two parts; the first part presents discourses on the role of IP in stimulating local innovation and the second discusses its role in stimulating FDI innovation and technology transfer.