New Gold Medals to Drive Commercial Research at Jaffna & Vavuniya Universities 📈

The Rukmini Tissanayagam Trust has announced a new initiative to award annual Gold Medals for the Best Commercialisable Research Projects at the University of Jaffna and the University of Vavuniya. • Objective: To bridge the gap between academia and industry by fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and university-industry collaboration among undergraduates and postgraduates. • Criteria: Awards will specifically honor research leading to licensing agreements with industry partners or the creation of university spin-off ventures across all disciplines. • Economic Impact: The initiative aims to enhance knowledge transfer and enterprise creation, supporting Sri Lanka’s long-term economic development and nation-building. • Status: Formal proposals were submitted on 20 Jan 2026; the Trust is currently finalizing implementation and selection timelines with the respective Vice Chancellors. The move marks a strategic shift toward commercializing academic output, potentially boosting the ICT/BPM, technology, and specialized services sectors through indigenous research.