Dialog Axiata Partners SLIIT to Host ‘Industry Symposium 2023’

Sri Lanka’s premier connectivity provider, Dialog Axiata PLC together with the Engineering Faculty of the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT) hosted ‘Industry Symposium 2023’ at the SLIIT campus premises in Malabe.

This event aimed to bring together pioneers from various industries to discuss and explore current industrial challenges and to create an environment for effective collaboration with academia, for the purpose of developing new and innovative solutions. Zone 24x7, Meu Labs, ACL Cables, LTL, MIDAS, MAS, Magicbit, Divor Automation, and FIMER joined hands with Dialog for the symposium where academics and experts shared their insights and brainstormed on possible solutions for the numerous challenges faced by the industry, due to current economic condition.

Commenting, Anthony Rodrigo, Group Chief Innovation Officer & Chief Architect of Dialog Axiata PLC said, “Being at the forefront of innovation and technology, we at Dialog are committed to empowering the next generation of innovators by creating a culture of creativity and collaboration. 'Dialog Future Zone' innovation centres at 12 leading Sri Lankan universities, provide a platform to develop innovative, cost-effective solutions to real-world problems. We firmly believe that it is our responsibility to equip the next generation with the tools they need to create a brighter future and by fostering a culture of creativity and collaboration, we are creating a community of young minds that are not afraid to push boundaries and explore endless possibilities.”

Dr. Narenda De Silva, General Manager of Lanka Electricity Company (Private) Limited and keynote speaker for the event, emphasized the importance of collaboration between industry and academia during his speech. Drawing from his experience working with Dialog to develop communication modules for Smart Electricity meters in the LECO network, he stated, “A university research done without industry application is of no use, and similar industry initiatives that don’t produce an opportunity for university research is also of little long-term value. Hence, it is pertinent that The Future Zone has taken the lead in the stitching industry and academia to fill the current void present in the market.”

Prof. Saman Thilakasiri, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering of Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), stated "Going with the vision of SLIIT, the Faculty of Engineering is always taking steps to strengthen its relationship with the industry and allowing students to take industry projects as their final year projects. The Industry Symposium facilitates this process, where we directly invite the industry to enlighten the students about the research needs of the industry. We believe the collaborative initiative between SLIIT Faculty of Engineering and Dialog Axiata PLC will go a long way."