PRI team visited the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology to discuss policy research collaboration and cooperation

October 03, 2021. Today, a team of Policy Research Institute – comprising the Head of Research Department, Dr. Deepak Kumar Khadka, who led the team, and Research Fellows, Dr. Sarmila Tandukar, Dr. Bikram Acharya, Dr. Sabin Basi, Mr. Ashok Pandey and the Library Management Coordinator Mr. Bimal Chandra Sharma – met with the Vice-Chancellor of the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), Dr. Sunil Babu Shrestha and other NAST officials at the NAST office in Khumaltar, to explore areas of research collaboration and cooperation. NAST officials present in the meeting included the Secretary, Dr. Mahesh Kumar Adhikary; Senior Technologist and Spokesperson, Dr. Suresh Kumar Dhungel; Division Chief, Planning and Evaluation, Ms. Neesha Rana; and the Head of the Promotion Division, Ms. Luna Vajra.

The two teams discussed and appreciated how NAST, the apex body of Science and Technology, and PRI, a government think tank with a strong policy process expertise and a wide mandate on policy research, can work together to complement and promote science, technology, and innovation through policy research, dialogue, and advocacy. Dr. Shrestha expressed his pleasure and willingness to support research collaboration in projects of mutual relevance and expertise.

The team has agreed to collaborate in the development of an inventory of a national framework for science, technology and innovation for Nepal, as proposed for this year in the Five-Year Strategic PRI. A team comprising PRI and NAST representatives will work on the inventory. The two also discussed how PRI and NAST can share information and contribute to each other’s activities for mutual support and complementarity.