Techno 2012 Expo begins tomorrow

Technology Exhibition held for 27th consecutive year:

The Techno exhibition 2012 is a platform to showcase engineering innovations that are helping to uplift the living standards and technical awareness of the country, the Techno 2012 National Engineering and Technology Exhibition, would be held from October 12 to 14, 2012, at the BMICH.

Engineer Tilak de Silva, President - elect 2011/2012 of the Institute of Engineers, Sri Lanka (IESL) and Chairman of Techno 2012 Organizing Committee, spoke to the 'Daily News business' to express their goals in holding an exhibition of this nature and the benefits and advantages that would benefit the public, and ultimately, the country.

Q: What is Techno?

A: Techno is an exhibition, which is a platform to showcase the most modern innovations in the engineering field for the benefit of the engineering community and other technically minded and interested parties, including the public.

The inaugural exhibition, named ‘Electro-Techno’ was organized in 1985. The inaugural exhibition was sponsored by Lanka Electricity Company (Pvt) Limited. After the inauguration in 1985, Techno became a national annual event and the 27th to be held since.

Q: What does Techno provide to society?

A: Techno Exhibition showcases current innovations and new methodologies of technology. In this momentous era, with the ending of the 30 year war and the country being on a fast track with the government steering mega engineering development projects, technology has a major role to play.

The exhibition showcases current local and global innovations that could be utilized to achieve this goal. We have become a nation of complacency, with no one, including the people educated and qualified, doing no research and development. There has been no effective Sri Lankan engineering patents registered for several years. This sad condition could not go on if we are to stamp our mark in the history of the world and achieve greatness.

The country must spring out of the lethargy that is crippling its development. This needs a drastic change in the mindset of Sri Lankans.

Research and development is very important for the upliftment of a country. Holding an exhibition of this nature, plays a very important role in changing the mindset of the people.

Q: What are the benefits that the government and private sector organizations could achieve by participating in the Techno Exhibition?

A: There are many ways that they could benefit. They could witness and evaluate new technologies and innovations that are available in the world and utilize those products and processes in their work to their benefit, making them more energy-efficient, with lesser costs, or safer and easier.

They have the opportunity to interact with representatives of the originators of such innovative products and obtain the technical know-how in their work.

For example, if there are new processes in bridge building that no one had utilized in Sri Lanka, local companies and government bodies engaged in bridge building could witness the new processes and technologies at the Techno 2012 Exhibition, interact with representatives of that organization and forge new business partnerships, thereby assisting in the development process of the country.

Q. How does the IESL and Techno support developing Sri Lanka?

A. As I said earlier, Techno provides a wide platform for the development of all technical fields. It serves as a catalyst for young and upcoming innovators to become stake holders in the development of the country. When it comes to IESL, the majority of engineers holding key positions in their engineering organizations, are members of the Institution. IESL provides them a forum to discuss new innovations that would make their contribution towards the development of the nation, voice their grievances, iron out their issues with the government and other stake holders and put in motion processes that lead to fast track development.

Techno will be a display of products, technologies, innovations and best practices of Sri Lankan companies, a vendor development event with leaders of the co-sectors such as transport, energy, telecom, an opportunity to explore investment opportunities and help to network and share knowledge with foreign and Sri Lankan delegates on the B2B platform and develop business relations, give access to innovative technologies and global best practices and increase public and professional appreciation and educate on engineering technology in meeting the world's need of engineering technology and how it influences to uplift and their living standards and prosperity.

Q. What is the target audience of Techno and why?

A. The target audience and beneficiaries of the Techno Exhibition consist of engineering professionals, manufacturers, products and services distributors and promoters, foreign and local investors and traders, local industrialists, academics and researchers, local industrialists, academics and researchers, innovators and young entrepreneurs, heads and officials of government departments, members of the engineering, training, technical and planning divisions of government and private sector organizations, students and educational institutions and the public. All these, stake holders of the national development, will be benefited in countless ways by participating in Techno.