The Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology (SLINTec), a public-private partnership, has been able to acquire five international patents in nanotechnology in its first year of operations. The international patents improve on the country’s past record rate of 1 to 1.5 international patents per year. The central bank said, “Field testing has already commenced as the first step to commercialising some of these products,” which include carbon nanotubes, nano-fertilizer, and nano-rubber. The Sri Lankan government is trying to improve nanotechnology research and development, especially in the sectors of textile and apparel products, the island’s main industrial export, as well as in rubber-based products, fertilizers and mineral products, such as graphite and ilmenite. “The use of nanotechnology in reducing the carbon footprint of garment manufacturing and also in garments’ dyeing processes, are also currently in the stage of development for commercialization,” said the bank. The bank added that the export of carbon nanotubes and nanoscale titanium dioxide in the place of raw minerals that are currently exported has the potential to increase export earnings.
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