ICTA launches 10,000 Ideas initiative to boost SL’s tech ecosystem

Sri Lanka yesterday saw the launch of its first-ever national ‘technovation’ programme ‘10,000 Ideas’, an effort that is aimed at connecting entrepreneurs to the larger entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Facilitated by the Information Communication Technology Agency (ICTA), the 10,000 Ideas initiative is conceptualised to help entrepreneurs, youth and students to take their innovative business ideas to next level.
The 10,000 Ideas will essentially help start-ups that have passed the ideation phase and are looking to kick start their businesses. The programme aims to cater to university and school students who are keen to start their own businesses. At the virtual launch held yesterday, the ICTA said that the initiative is a collaborative journey where multiple ecosystem partners have come on board to launch 10,000 tech start-ups by the end of 2024. The goal is to create 25 ecosystems.

“We need a lot of help from the industry and all the relevant ministries. Technology is everywhere and without technology we won’t be able to do anything is to come. We are looking forward to have a very successful programme to get great ideas to load into multinational companies,” said ICTA Chief Digital Economy Officer Anura de Alwis during the launch yesterday.

“If you are brimming with ideas and want to make it to next level or even looking for collaborative opportunities to elevate your game, whether you are youth organisation and non-profit or corporate, 10,000 Ideas is a place for you,” he added.

According to the ICTA, the new initiative will also assist in developing grass-roots innovation to address local and global challenges using deep tech, deep science and engineering personality.

Via the 10,000 start-up idea, to amplify the knowledge base, the ICTA looks to develop domain knowledge by partnering local and international experts across the globe to build a sustainable start-up to solve real-world challenges.