High tech survey:

Benchmarking innovation readiness

The International Institute of International Software Economies, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (IISEIE) in collaboration with The Sri Lanka Association of Software and Services Companies (SLASSCOM) and Microsoft is conducting a high-tech survey of the local information and communication technology (ICT) and is encouraging local ICT companies to participate in this survey that will provide a comprehensive overview of the local ICT industry in Sri Lanka.

The information provided by this survey will assist both The Government and the industry to better understand the opportunities for growth in the high-tech industry and will help to align specific programs to enable companies and entrepreneurs to create new solutions, companies and jobs in a growing market place.

IISEIE Chief Executive Officer, Malcolm Fraser, said this is a unique opportunity to gain a current insight into the structure, growth and development capacity of the ICT industry in Sri Lanka.

"The information can be effectively used to maximise economic performance of the industry by designing programs that are specifically tailored to meet current needs and enhance innovation," said Fraser.

"It sets out specific steps to increase the competitiveness of the industry and identify opportunities for growth by understanding how the industry appears and functions in regard to certain aspects or activities important to its innovation capacity," he said.

SLASSCOM Chairman Dinesh Saparamadu said, "We are happy to collaborate in this survey, as it is a unique opportunity to gain robust and up to date insights in the structure, growth and development capacity of the high-tech industry in Sri Lanka. Further, it will serve as an excellent benchmarking tool for our member companies."

Once complete the results of the survey will be available in the form of an Innovation Readiness Index, a benchmarking tool, which will help to improve the understanding of the capacity for innovation, identify innovation strengths, spot any critical barriers and risks that may limit or block innovation, understand their relationship with the market place and identify opportunities for growth and improvement.

More information on the Sri Lanka High-Tech Survey can be obtained at http://knowledge.iiseie.org/articles/20110208