On 26th of July 2020, NRNA formally  announced the launch of 2nd NRN Global Knowledge Convention with a theme “Diaspora for Innovation and Prosperity in Nepal: Post COVID-19 Scenario”. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Nepal Government is the official partner of the convention, and Kathmandu University is providing the venue and host. In the conventions, there are 4 plenary and fifteen symposium sessions, and the conference will run for three days from Oct 9-11^th, 2020. The conference details are in the NRNA link https://www.facebook.com/NRNAOfficial/. www.knowledge.nrna.org The convention will be held in both hybrid and online mode.

The online launch was attended by over 10K people and feedback received shows its significance and will help in the successful execution of the conference. The conference is the follow up the 1^st Global Knowledge Convention held in 2018 with a theme “Expanding Nepal Knowledge pool Through Diaspora” which had put forward several key recommendations to GoN and one of them was the continuation of the conference and follow up on the implementation of its recommendations. The 2^nd conference thus aims to review the progress and reposition to unite the diaspora efforts to next stage of implementation and provide a long-term solution to boost Nepal S&T capability to innovation, infrastructures, resource mobilizations, adaptation to emerging science and technology, commercialization of research efforts and handling of current and future crises. Minds of policymakers, experts, entrepreneurs, scientists from private and public scientific institutions and young researchers will deliver and deliberate in these 3 days conference to brainstorm and exchange ideas on a road map plan and how collaboration, co-investment, and partnership can be developed to access global knowledge through knowledge highway to Nepal’s ultimate prosperity.

NRNA ICC has formed a Health committee to respond to emergency relief measures by providing equipment, test kits, masks, and assist Government is controlling the spread of the virus. NRNA has raised close to NRs 10 crores which will be directed to COVID and other relief measures. NRNA Science Knowledge and Technology Department (SK&TT) and Nepal Science Foundation Trust (NSFT) is also exploring the possibility to set up a COVID laboratory in partnership with NAST. NRNA knowledge investment efforts are on many fronts and are commendable.

COVID crises are unique and a learning experience not only for Nepal but for the whole world. Nepal has amazingly done well so far with the lowest reported infection rates of 18,613 and 45 deaths but need urgent measures for large scale testings to know the real situation without being complacent as Nepal resources and infrastructures are not suffice able to handle crises if gets out of hand.  Countries who are not capable to conduct a large number of tests on a daily basis due to lack of resources and infrastructure and trace and track, risk facing severe health and economic consequences compared to others. This Coronavirus is different and COVID is to stay here for some time even after vaccination and drug are available as scientists are not sure of the virus response due to its unique mode of action and resilience to survive by mutation.

This conference has a challenging task on two fronts. One organizing the conference on an online forum and secondly providing concrete recommendations to deal with COVID crises and its impact on the overall health, economy, agriculture, and infrastructure at a time when Nepal is facing crises on many fronts.

NRNA knowledge investment initiative is visionary and is the right time that Diaspora and Nepal scientists and technocrats’ minds take real leadership on the grounds to steer the country to prosperity. The world knows that India and China’s rise to global power were due to innovation by their investment in S&T and skill human resources. It is time Nepal follows a similar path and knowledge convention plays a greater role.

Dr Raju Adhikari, Member of the Organising Committee,  Science Knowledge and technology Transfer  Department, Nepal Science Foundation Trust (NSFT)