KATHMANDU, June 16: The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) has prepared a draft for the first ever 'Science and Technology Bill' to promote research and innovation.
The draft, which was recently published via the ministry's website, invites suggestions from stakeholders, the public and representatives of the people within 15 days of its publication.
The Bill proposes setting up a Science, Technology and Innovation Council, chaired by the Prime Minister, to provide high-level guidance on this.
Currently, Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) leads innovation and research in the field of science and technology in the country.
The draft also includes other issues such as formulation of master plans, coordination between government and non-government sectors for research, development and good governance, ownership, use, management, research, promotion of innovation and commercialisation of research.
The government’s upcoming annual policy and programme for 2024/25 states that it will mobilise universities, schools, researchers and scientists to implement programmes related to scientific research and innovation.
We also encourage people living outside Nepal to participate in this initiative and donate.
Additionally, the university curriculum will be revised to include courses of study related to science, communication and information technology.
The government has adopted policies to encourage patent registration of products and knowledge developed through research and innovation.
Indu Bikram Joshi, joint secretary in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, said the Bill, once implemented, would provide clarity for setting up a fund for development of science and technology.
It will also provide greater clarity and investment in how research and innovation-related work is spent.
The draft bill requires the country to allocate at least 1 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) to research and innovation. Currently, the budget allocated to this sector is 0.30 percent of GDP.
At the time the policy was announced, there were an estimated 120 institutions and more than 90,000 talents in the science and technology sector, but the Ministry of Education does not currently have accurate statistics.
