SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY IN NEPAL

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• SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY IN NEPAL
• Dilli Raj Joshi
• Nepal Academy of Science and
  Technology

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Nepal at a Glance

• Landlocked country, situated between China to the
  north and India to the east, west and south.
• Total area 147,181 sq. km
• Altitudes ranging from less than 100 meters in
  the south to the highest peak of the world 8848
  meters Mount Everest in the north.
• Total population - 24.2 million.

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Nepal

• Predominantly agricultural country, about 80
  percent populations involved in agriculture.
• Per capita income US 322.
• Developing economy - transferring from rural to
  urban and traditional to modern market oriented.
• 30.85 of the population living below the poverty
  line.
• Literacy rate - 54.1 percent.

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Science and Technology Systems

• Traditional Technologies
• Crafting religious artifacts, images and statues
  of bronze, copper or gold found in the temples.
• Architecture and civil engineering often blended
  with art and culture mostly temples, pagodas and
  stupas.
• Textile manufacture using spinning and weaving
  devices such as handlooms.
• Traditional method of paper manufacture.
• Food technology brewing beers, wine and hard
  liquor, preserving meats, fruits and vegetables.
• Modern science and technology institutions began
  after 1951. Until then relied almost entirely
  upon its indigenous technology for development.

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National Science and Technology Council

• Chaired by the Minister of Science and
  Technology and comprises representatives from
  different relevant organizations and private
  sectors.
• Functions
• To review and revise the policy.
• To review the progress.
• To find out measures for resolving the problems.
• To coordinate and monitor all the actions done in
  this field.

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Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology

• Established on May 15, 1996 and renamed Ministry
  of Environment, Science and Technology (MOEST).
• Objectives
• Promote environmentally sustainable economic
  development of the country
• Preserve natural and cultural environment and
  protect life supporting system (i.e. air, water
  and soil)
• Identify a new technology and contribute to
  achieving the national objectives regarding
  poverty alleviation by developing appropriate and
  new technology through the research.
• Develop and promote traditional and indigenous
  technologies.

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MOEST..

• Functions
• Formulation and implementation of policies, plans
  and programs.
• Liaison and coordination with national and
  international organizations.
• Pollution control, environmental conservation and
  balance.
• Exploration and research in the field of science
  and technology
• Promotion of alternative energy
• Study, research and forecasting on hydrology and
  meteorology
• Development and expansion of information
  technology

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Nepal Academy of Science and Technology

• Established on December 1982 by a Royal Charter,
  the Parliament in 1992 promulgated the Act and
  earlier know as Royal Nepal Academy of Science
  and Technology.
• Objectives
• Advancement of science and technology for all
  round development of the nation.
• Preservation and further modernisation of
  indigenous technologies.
• Promotion of research in science and technology.
• Identification and facilitation of appropriate
  technology transfer.

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NAST..

• Functions
• Undertake and promote studies and research in
  priority areas,
• Advise the government on formulation of
  technology transfer policy and its
  implementation,
• Implement ST programs in collaboration with
  national and international organizations,
• Organize seminars and conferences on ST topics
  and help facilitate ST publications, establish
  and strengthen linkages with regional and
  international institutions in order to promote
  mutual cooperation,
• Give recognition to outstanding individual and
  institutional contribution for development,
  promotion and application of ST,
• Increase public awareness of the importance and
  usefulness of ST as well as to create conditions
  conducive of ST application,
• Set up exhibit centers for ST related inventions
  and innovative models.

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NAST..

• Activities of the Academy
• Biotechnology
• Natural products
• Environment
• Alternate energy
• High altitude science and technology
• Science and technology policy.
• ST Promotional activities
• Science popularization programmes
• Science Exhibition Conducted in remote areas
• Radio Programs Weekly programme on Radio Nepal
• Televisions Programs Weekly programme
• Quiz Contests on-the spot quiz contest for high
  school students
• Meet your scientist interaction program
• School science programmes
• Publication of science magazines and journals
• Research grants and scholarships
• Awards
• Travel grants and regular support to professional
  societies.

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Science and Technology Policy

• Vision
• To build developed, dynamic and prosperous state
  by raising the living standards through the
  appropriate development and use of science and
  technology.
• Objectives
• Enhance national capacity through the appropriate
  development and use of knowledge , skill and
  efficiency in the field of science and
  technology.
• Assist in the poverty reduction activities by
  utilizing natural means and resources through the
  use of science and technology.
• To elevate the country to a competitive position
  through the optimum development of science and
  technology.

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ST Policy..

• Policies
• To use science and technology as a powerful means
  to increase production and productivity of the
  country.
• To create an environment for the maximum
  utilization of knowledge and skill of science and
  technology available in regional and
  international arena by promoting mutual
  cooperation with the bilateral, multilateral,
  regional and international organizations.
• To promote participation of private sector in the
  development of science and technology.
• To develop and mobilize skilled human resources .
• To extend the development of technology to the
  rural levels.
• To create a conducive environment to maintain
  high morale of the scientist and technologists
  and minimize the brain drain.

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Policy Intervention A Success Story

• Alternative Energy Promotion Center/MOEST
• Established in 1996 with objectives of promotion
  of renewable/alternative energy technologies to
  raise the living standard of the rural people, to
  protect the environment.
• Policy
• To intensify the development and utilization of
  the renewable energy technology based on local
  resources. (Science and Technology Policy 2005).
• To develop and extension of alternative energy
  technology to ensure the supply of energy of the
  rural mass and support the rural economy (tenth
  plan 2002-2007).

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A Success Story..

• Main Programs
• Development and Promotion of biogas technology
• Generation of electricity by Micro-Hydro Power
  plants (less than 500kw)
• Promotion of Solar Energy technologies
  (particularly Solar PV Home System)

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A Success Story..

• Subsidy policy
• adoption of the subsidy policy to make easy
  access of the rural people to the alternative
  energy technologies
• Subsidy for biogas plant per plant is given as

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A Success Story..

• Benefits from the biogas plants
• Saving of fuel wood used for cooking
  (_at_2tons/plant)
• Saving use of kerosene(25 liters/plant/year)
• Reduction of GHG emissions(7tons CO2/plant)
• Proper use of bio-slurry and bio-compost
• Improvement of rural sanitations by connecting
  toilets in plants
• Reduction of indoor air pollution due to kitchen
  smoke

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A Success Story..
Major Achievements
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ISSUES

• Poor public understanding of Science and
  Technology.
• Lack of coordination and cooperation between
  science and technology organisations
• Less priority for RD and state funding in ST
  very low.
• Lack of integrated long term master plan for the
  development of science and technology
• Gaps between policies and practices and between
  planning and performances
• Technology development and transfer not
  institutionalised.
• Lack of economic development No funding in RD
  from the industrial and private sectors.
• Lack of minimum research facilities Brain drain.

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