1. Taking research outputs beyond bench-top trials for socio-economic wellbeing
J.G. Shantha Siri
Senior Scientific Officer
Technology Division
National Science Foundation
Tel: ,

2. Objective
To make researchers and scientists aware about the NSF Technology Grant Schemes and related other services which facilitate R&D commercialization

3. Outline 1. Introduction to R&D commercialization
2. NSF Technology Grant Schemes
3. Support for IP protection
4. Support scheme for publishing science books
5. NSF-University science society Programme
6. NSF Award schemes
7. Success story

4. 1. Introduction to R&D commercialization
Commercialization is an exchange of know-how for money (Speser, 2008)
A sequence of activities for converting an invention to a product or service (Rosa & Rose, 2007)
Taking the R&D of an organization to an industry (Cornford, 2002)
Process of transforming new knowledge into new products/services, employment & pay cheques

5. Introduction contd.,
In the knowledge economy, physical inputs (raw materials, labour, land etc.) has been replaced by IP assets (patents, trademarks, copyrights etc.)
Sri Lanka is about to shift from lower middle income to upper middle income nation
One of the national priorities is to enhance high-tech exports
Demand for ROI from R&D from higher decision making level

6. commercial scale production
Introduction contd.,
Value chain
Tech. development
R&D
Idea Prototype Pre-industrial product
Product
Commercial venture
Product development/
scaling up
Test marketing &
commercial scale production

8. 2. NSF Technology Grant Scheme 1. Support for Technology Development
Having R&D completed
R&D output with commercial potential
Prototype development/scaling up
2. Support for Start-Up businesses based on novel technologies
Having technology development completed
Product development completed
Market surveillance done
Business proposal is prepared
Ready to market product

9. Grant Scheme contd., Specific format of application Review process
Evaluation criteria
Business proposal
Progress monitoring
Fund disbursement mechanism

10. 3. Support for IP protection
Guidance for patent drafting
Patent information search
Guidance for applying under PCT
Provision to meet cost incurred for IP protection

11. 4. Support scheme for publishing science books
Improve the quality of the publications on Science and Technology.
Create an avenue for public to access authentic reading material on science and technology.
Financial support to cover printing cost ( apply at least two months a head along with three quotations).

12. 5. NSF-University Science Society Programme
Opportunity for undergraduate to share the knowledge
Financial support to cover cost of printing materials in a knowledge sharing/dissemination session

13. 6. NSF Award Schemes NSF Research Awards SUSRED Awards
TWAS/NSF Young Scientist Award
Teachers Award for promoting science
Technology Awards
NASTA Awards

14. 7. Success story

15. Success story 2 NSF completed research grant, RG/2005/E/05
NSF Technology Grant - TG/2012/Start-Up/01

16. Ultimate message
Even a technically bright innovation can fail in the market because ultimate peer reviewer is the Customer. Therefore, start with market & end with market

17. Thank you