Nepal's Science and Technology Sector Lacks Laws and Budget, Says Minister
According to Nepal's Education, Science, and Technology Minister, Ashok Kumar Rai, the science and technology sector lacks both laws and budgets for development. This concern was raised at the "Space Kun 2023" event held as a joint initiative between the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) and the Space Institute of Nepal.
Efforts to Increase Budget for Development
The minister stated that it is difficult to convince the Ministry of Finance to allocate a sufficient budget for this sector. Despite this, the government is making an effort to allocate an adequate budget for the development of science and technology. The minister emphasized that production and development in science technology and electronics sector should be encouraged to discourage the trend of importing everything.
Support for Young Scientists
Pramiladevi Bajracharya, Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, expressed her commitment to supporting young scientists as much as possible. She stated that the Science and Technology Act would soon be introduced, encouraging young scientists to engage in new technology development. Additionally, they will engage in policy and budget formulation and management.
Encouragement for Technology Development
Dr. Ramesh Kumar Maske, a professor at NAST, encouraged young scientists to develop new technology to help the country. He stated that barren land could be made arable and urged young scientists to find new things. He added that Nepal could produce electronic products and sell them to China and India, as Taiwan is doing with its one chip.
Exhibitions and Discussions
The "Space Kun 2023" program exhibited technologies such as satellites, space technology, traffic automation system, and 3D printer developed by Nepali scientists in the space sector. The program also organized two group discussions: "Space Planning and Reporting" and "Women for Space."
