Budget For Innovation

The federal government has reached a deal with Ramon Magsaysay Award winner Mahabir Pun on Monday regarding budget allocation for science and innovation sector. On behalf of the government, Deputy Prime Minister Purna Bahadur Khadka signed the agreement with Pun to address the demands he has been raising with the government. Science and innovation crusader Pun was even staging a sit-in in the capital demanding the federal and provincial governments to allocate one per cent of the development budget for the expansion of research works, innovation and invention that ultimately lead to the economic development of the country.  According to the deal, the government has agreed to establish a fund to carry out the works related to research and innovation in an integrated manner. The government will formulate a draft bill within sixty days for the management and operation of the fund. It has also been agreed that the draft bill will be approved in the upcoming session of the Federal Parliament. 

Most importantly, the government has agreed to spend one per cent of the development budget from the next fiscal year for the promotion of the science and innovation sector. Nepal had formally begun experiencing modern science for the first time in 1919 when intermediate science education was introduced in Tri-Chandra College. Even after over a century, the country is still in the nascent phase in terms of scientific research, innovation and invention. As Nepal is a developing country continuously plagued with poverty, backwardness and unemployment, science and technology sector has lagged behind on the pretext of these basic problems. But actually, innovation is the key to end these enemies of advancement. 

The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology is the top government body for formulating plans and policies concerning science and technology and implementing them across the country. Similarly, National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) has been working as an autonomous body in promoting science and technology along with indigenous innovations. They are unable to make significant strides for advancing science and innovation to higher level due to the lack of vision, priority and resources. What is needed in this regard is the willpower of the political stakeholders. Now the government must not delay to take solid steps to strengthen innovation and research. In this regard, the initiative and devotion shown by innovative people like Pun deserves commendation. 

Many countries have developed by prioritising the development of science and innovation. Nepal can also develop itself and become prosperous like those countries by investing in science and technology. We as a country have the geopolitical advantage. Nepal's economy has become import bases as we are far behind in production and export. As a result, Nepal's trade deficit is widening over the decades. Trade cannot act in our favour until we focus on production, self-sufficiency and export. We need to reform our education system by focusing on the practical aspects of scientific research and innovation. Similarly, the government should invest sufficient budget and resources to establish science lab and innovation centres across the country. 

The government and the private sector have their own role to advance the level of scientific research and innovation. People like Pun with innovative ideas should be encouraged to lead research projects, innovative plans and export oriented manufacturing. As the nation is striving to graduate up from the least developed country status, science and innovation play a significant role in accelerating economic growth. That will help retain youth power within the country and stop the current trend of brain drain.