-Narayan Dhungana/Subhanu Acharya, The International Youth Conference on Science, Technology and Innovation has concluded here on Wednesday issuing a 12-point declaration. The three-day conference also pledged to establish a 'Research and Innovation Fund'.
The fund will have a deposition of minimum one percent profit amounts from service providers like government and non-government organisations, industries and banks.
The conference also reached a conclusion to expedite research activities through centralised institutions after establishing a research-oriented system based on national need.
Organised jointly by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, National Academy of Science and Technology and National Youth Council, the conference was attended by approximately 400 scientists from Nepal, the US, UK, India, China, Japan, Australia, Germany, Norway, Singapore, South Africa, and South Korea.
The declaration is expected to make headways for realising Nepal's goals of 'Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepalis', said the programme coordinator Dr Niroj Pandey. A proposal made for the recommendation of reforms in related fields after identifying challenges facing organisations carrying out a research and offering classes on technical sector has been passed, he added.
The conference has agreed to implement a special plan alongside Rs 3 billion investment and operate the public policy partnership entrepreneurship promotion programme.
Coordinator Dr Pandey said that the conference drew the conclusion to build Youth Scientist Forum, constructing National Policy and Research Centre and urging the government of Nepal to celebrate Science Year.
The conference was organised from October 21 under the theme 'Research and Innovation for Prosperity', where 65 working papers of 18 issues related to science and technology were presented.
Addressing the concluding ceremony of the conference via video conference, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli said that development was not possible without use of science and technology.
PM Oli stressed the need of increasing use of science and technology in development and production.
Saying the country has been moving ahead to fulfill the dream of prosperity, he said that the role of Nepali scientists living in and outside the country would be significant as the country has moved ahead towards the path of good governance and development.
The PM laid emphasis on increasing the use of science and technology by exchanging skills at a time when the nation is moving ahead with national campaign 'Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali'.
He expressed the belief that the conclusion of the conference would be useful for the nation, moving ahead in the path of prosperity.
Similarly, Minister for Education Science and Technology Giriraj Mani Pokharel shared that the government would increase the grants for science and technology.
He shared that recent Cabinet meeting has taken decisions to this end. He shared that the Ministry of Education would address some agendas endorsed on Wednesday.
Minister also opined for adopting science and technology policy to advance scientific development in the nation.
Speaking in the same programme, Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) vice chancellor Dr Sunil Babu Shrestha argued that the nation can achieve progress if Nepali scientists are united.
National Youth Council vice chair Madhav Dhungel stressed on specific study of science and technology.
