# National Innovation Center

The National Innovation Center (Nepali: राष्ट्रिय आविष्कार केन्द्र्, Rashtriya Abiskar Kendra) is a nonprofit organisation established on 9 November 2012 by Mahabir Pun. Tribhuwan University provided land for the purpose of establishing the center in 2019 and the infrastructure was constructed at a cost of NPR 8 crore.

## Funding

Pun tried to secure fund for the Center till July 2016, but seeing no progress, he started crowd funding campaign which was a success. He was able to collect NPR 100 millions. Other plans to fund the Center according to Pun is to build a 10MW hydropower station. Mahabir also donated his own land to establish the National Innovation Center.

## Objectives

* Primary objective to establish the Innovation center according to Mahabir is to foster research and developments for the economic development of the country.

## Founding Members

The founding members of the organization are:
* Dr. Mahabir Pun (Social Entrepreneur and Internet Hall of Fame inductee)
* Mr. Rameshore Khanal (Economist and Former Secretary, Ministry of Finance)
* Dr. Dambar Nepali (Hydro Power expert)
* Dr. Pramod Dhakal (former scientist in Canada now with Open University Nepal)
* Dr. Dinesh Bhuju (Scientist, National Academy of Science and Technology)
* Hari Kumar Silwal (Chartered Accountant)

## Notable Projects

The center sponsors any projects with possibility to serve the community. According to Pun, academic qualification is not necessary to start projects at the center. The center is working in about 20 projects.

### Medical Drones

In collaboration with UNICEF, prototype drones capable of delivering medicines are under study. The design, fabrication and testing are done in Nepal locally. These drones have become successful to carry 1 kg for about 2 km as of 2018.

### Sel Roti Machine

It is a project to make a machine for mass-production of traditional Nepali cuisine, Sel roti. The project was started by Abhisek Nakarmi and Krishna Deole.

### Monkey Repellent System

This project aims to make a device powered by solar energy that can sense and repels wild animals. It is inspired by the village where monkey destroyed crops every year. The device produces different types of sound to repel the animals.

### Online Bus Ticketing Platform

This project aims to provide an online bus ticketing platform that provides ticket booking facilities, a website, and an Android application. This project was started by Rajesh Das and after the completion of the project, he started a company called Okay Journey.

## COVID19 response (contribution)

The centre actively participated in COVID-19 assistance.
* It distributed PPE freely to ambulance drivers and health workers.
* It developed and distributed swab collection booth freely to Bir Hospital, Teaching Hospital, Birendra Hospital, APF Hospital, Bhaktapur hospital, Teku Hospital and some hospitals in Butwal, Itahari, Surkhet, Baglung and Birgunj.
* It freely repaired ventilators of various hospitals.

## Industrial Collaboration

The centre has collaborated with various commercial organizations.
* It has worked with Chicken and fish farms in Chitwan District
* It is working in the field of tourism and agriculture in Biratnagar and Pokhara