SLT invests on ICoRN laboratory at the Peradeniya University

S. M. Jiffrey ABDEEN, Kandy South Group corr.

KANDY: Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT), took a step into the future by establishing an innovative Information and Communication Research Network (ICoRN) Laboratory at one of Sri Lanka's prestigious academic institutions, the University of Peradeniya recently.

The broad vision of this project is to provide a platform for researchers from a wide variety of disciplines to come together to undertake research and development activities.

The creation of the ICoRN laboratory by SLT is in acknowledgment of the importance of creating a network, which will help to further enhance ICT research and development in the country, fostering an unprecedented range of avenues for global socio economic development.

CEO of SLT Shoji Takahashi, speaking on the partnership and the long-term objectives of the initiative said: "The broad vision of this ICoRN project is to provide a platform for researchers from various disciplines to come together to take part in research and development activities.

Being a pioneer university with highest diversity in areas of study in the country, the University of Peradeniya has provided appropriate environment for the country's premier communications provider, Sri Lanka Telecom, to come up with a valuable idea to establish a multi-disciplinary research laboratory for ICT R&D."

"The synergetic effect of two leaders, University of Peradeniya and Sri Lanka Telecom together is expected to produce substantial contribution to the socio-economic development of the country," Takahashi added.

Also with the growing need for new innovations and developments in ICT to match the rising expectations of humans as well as to make advances in ICT itself, this initiative helps to bridge the gap between the corporate sector and the academic arena, which usually operate independently of each other.

Rapid developments in technologies and the industry as a whole inflict pressure on graduates to meet the demands of the corporate sector, in which exposure they lack.

This results in the difficulty to adjust to the highly demanding and competitive corporate world.

Working in collaboration with the University of Peradeniya is a fine example of how the academic sector and corporate sector can work together for the betterment of the country.