Research and Innovation grant is awarded to Fossmart 

The 10th Private Sector Forum organized by the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka(ICTA) was held November 20th, 2007. Fosswall by Fossmart, which unifies best-of-breed open source Internet security applications under a single easy-to-use interface, was selected for funding in the Research and Innovation space.

Introduction

The ICT Capacity Building Programme (ICBP) is a US$5.2 million programme meant to develop the ICT private sector in Sri Lanka through short term stimuli.

It is funded by the World Bank and the Government of Sri Lanka and overseen by the ICT Agency of Sri Lanka, the apex government body for ICT policy. The administration of the ICBP is handled by the ICBP Process Consultant (PC), PricewaterhouseCoopers, Sri lanka.

The ICBP contains 27 strategies. Each strategy can be considered to be a mini programme with its own goals, but all are related to the overall goal of developing the ICT private sector.

These strategies can be grouped into three areas: strategies that aid Human Resource Development, strategies that seek to assist in Industry Promotion and Development and strategies that focus on the Creation of an Enabling Environment.

The ICBP was launched in November, 2005 and has now been operational for two years. This report is a summary of its operations and accomplishments, during these two years.

Encouraging Innovation and Entrepreneurship in ICT

Innovation and entrepreneurship are the keystones of any vibrant ICT industry. The ICBP has three sets of grants that encourage such activities. 

Two grants of US$35,000 each were offered for larger companies to develop into centers of excellence in areas of national ICT priority, and in areas where Sri Lanka may emerge as global specialists. A further two grants of $25,000 each were offered for companies attempting an innovative application / product related to one of Sri Lanka's thrust industries, such as tea or tourism. And upto 20 grants of US$5,000 each were offered as seed capital for small entrepreneurs attempting innovation in the ICT arena.

The grants were launched at the ICTA's quarterly private sector meeting with Professor Tissa Vitarana, Minister of Science and Technology, as the chief guest. A significant number of ICT private sector and press representatives attended the event and, subsequently, the Sunday Observer and the Daily Mirror both carried articles about the innovation grants.

All the applications received for the grants were then reviewed by an expert panel appointed by the advisory committee with domain experts brought in when necessary. The panel then interviewed the applicants and made recommendations.

FOSSWALL by FOSSMART, which is an appliance which unifies best-of-breed open-source internet security applications under a single easy-to-use interface, was selected for funding in the Research and Innovation space.