The words ‘Knowledge, Technology, Innovation and Development Dividend’ have over the years brought out many divergent commentaries and discussions, expressing ambivalence in relation to the impact of knowledge and technology in our everyday life. The philosophy, development and roles and impact of knowledge and technology make a very important study of our times. How to develop and capture the role and impact of knowledge, technology and innovation in addressing the big problems of the technological/ developmental culture of the 21st century remains a critical concern.

To further enlighten AIT Consulting staff and distinguished guests from AIT, on this topic, Prof. Pramod Shrestha, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist and Coordinator for the AIT-Nepal Education Foundation-Consortium of Colleges Nepal (NEF-CCN) Partnership, delivered a talk and discussion session on Knowledge, Technology, Innovation and Development Dividend, on Thursday 27 September 2012. Distinguished AIT guests included Prof. I.M. Pandey, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Mr. Karma Rana, Institute Secretary, Office of the President; Dr. Shobhakar Dhakal, Associate Professor, SERD; Mr. Ahmed Amjad Ali, Head, ERCO; Mr. Gyanendra Sthapit, Interim Director, Habitech Center; Ms. Izel Dante, Head, Research & Education Support; Mr. Ashish Sitoula, Project Coordinator, Office of the President and Ms. Joan Carla Gonzales, Coordinator, Student Affairs & Career Center.

During his presentation, Prof. Shrestha addressed the broad issues of promoting knowledge, technology and innovation in ‘development’ as a concept with two equally important objectives. The first, was about how to produce a development with humanitarian dividend from the investments in knowledge, technology and innovation. The second objective, was about how to encourage, expand the potentials, optimize and build innovation in developing countries and communities characterized by institutions with inadequate resources and working in unreliable political contexts. Prof. Shrestha concluded the talk with his valued opinion, that technology and development should be reshaped by the society through a critical review of our knowing, understanding and perception of technology and the technological-social change. The talk was ended with a quote from Sir Francis Bacon: “If we are to achieve results never before accomplished, we must expect to employ methods never before attempted.”