IT Aid

Feb 15, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s software developers will get cash incentives to develop software that can make small enterprises more efficient, or modernize export industries and tourism, officials said. œThe initial boost provided through these innovation grants will be just the beginning of a much wider involvement both from the government and the private sector to incubate and nurture business ideas which possess great potential for the future, Fayaz Hudah, Programme Manager at ICTA, said.

The ICT Agency (ICTA) said Wednesday that it would give small grants to companies for commercially useful research and development projects or develop specialized software for local industries to help improve productivity.

Industries such as the garments, spices, gem and jewellery, tea and tourism have potential to increase its efficiency and competitiveness by using software applications, ICTA says.

Small and medium-scale entrepreneurs will also be eligible for grants to develop ICT concepts that have broad application in the ICT industry or to local industries in general.

A total of 22 grants are to be given in three categories, with World Bank funding to the tune of 560,000 dollars set