Industrial Technology Institute

What Industrial Technology Institute does

Industrial Technology Institute (ITI) is a government-owned statutory research board in Sri Lanka, established on 01 April 1998 under the Science and Technology Act No. 11 of 1994 as the successor to the Ceylon Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research (CISIR, founded 1955). Operating under the Ministry of Technology, ITI is the country's leading national R&D and technical services provider, employing 501-1000 staff across three locations in Colombo and Malabe. The institute is structured around six core service lines: Research & Development (Food Technology, Herbal Technology, Materials & Nanotechnology, Environment Management, Biotechnology, and an Advanced Research Platform), Testing & Calibration Services spanning 16 specialized areas, Technology Transfer (maintaining a technology bank with 500+ product technologies ready for commercialization), Training (including NVQ certifications and tailor-made industry courses), Consultancy, and Contract Projects for domestic and international clients.

ITI's business model combines government budgetary allocation with multi-stream service revenue across professional services (testing, calibration, consultancy, training, contract research) and licensing/royalty income from technology transfer. Its distribution model is sales-led and direct, with services accessed through office locations, a hotline, email inquiries, and formal service request processes; international engagement occurs through partnerships with multilateral organizations including UNIDO, IAEA, FAO, UNDP, GIZ, NORAD, IDRC, COMSATS, WAITRO, USAID, JICA, ADB, and IFC. The institute holds SWEDAC and SLAB accreditations aligned with ISO/IEC 17025:2018, providing internationally traceable calibration and measurement services to domestic industries, SMEs, MSMEs, government organizations, and testing laboratories. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Industrial Technology Institute

Legal name

Industrial Technology Institute

Website

https://iti.lk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Government-owned statutory research institute in Sri Lanka providing multidisciplinary R&D, accredited testing and calibration services, technology transfer, training, consultancy, and contract research to industries, SMEs, entrepreneurs, and government entities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Colombo

HQ country

Sri Lanka

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Testing and Calibration Services: State-of-the-art analytical services in chemical, physical and microbiological testing provided to industries and organizations.
2. Technology Transfer and Licensing: Transfer of R&D innovations in Food, Herbal, Material, and Biotechnology to industries for potential commercialization. Product technology transfer on exclusive or non-exclusive basis.
3. Consultancy Services: Consultancy for establishing new industries, upgrading existing industries, laboratory infrastructure setup, and environmental pollution control and mitigation.
4. Training Programs: Technical training programmes, seminars, workshops and certificate courses including NVQ (National Vocational Qualifications) and tailor-made courses for industry workforce development.
5. Contract Research Projects: Customized research and projects undertaken for industries, SMEs, national and international entities based on contract agreements to solve technical and technological issues.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

ITI is Sri Lanka's national statutory research and technical services institute providing multi-disciplinary R&D, accredited testing and calibration, technology transfer, training and consultancy services to industries, SMEs, entrepreneurs and government entities. Its core deliverable is fee-based technical services—analytical testing, SI-traceable calibration, contract research and licensing of its 500+ product technology bank—executed through accredited laboratory facilities.

Product overview

Industrial Technology Institute operates as a statutory research board and the leading national R&D and technical services provider in Sri Lanka. The institute offers a comprehensive portfolio organized around six core service areas: Research & Development (covering Food Technology, Herbal Technology, Materials & Nanotechnology, Environment Management, and Biotechnology), Testing & Calibration Services (providing chemical, physical, and microbiological testing across 16+ specialized areas including Industrial Metrology), Technology Transfer (disseminating R&D innovations with a technology bank of 500+ products), Training (technical programs including NVQ certifications), Consultancy (industry support services), and Contract Projects (customized research for clients). The institute operates as a one-stop technical services center with multidisciplinary laboratory facilities serving industries, SMEs, and government organizations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Research & Development Multi-disciplinary scientific research covering Food Technology, Herbal Technology, Materials & Nanotechnology, Environment Management, Biotechnology and an Advanced Research Platform, delivered to industries, SMEs and government clients to foster industrial growth.
• Testing & Calibration Services Comprehensive accredited analytical services including chemical, physical and microbiological testing across Food & Nutrition, Microbiology, Soil & Fertilizer, Water & Wastewater, Air Quality Monitoring, Organic & Inorganic Residues, Noise & Vibration, Acoustic & Performance Testing, Electrotechnology, Pharmaceuticals & Cosmetics, Packaging Materials, Petroleum/Lubricants/Foam, Materials Identification, GMO/Molecular Testing, Essential Oils/Spices/Herbal Products and Industrial Metrology.
• Industrial Metrology Laboratory Accredited calibration and measurement services for thermometry, mass, electrical, pressure, dimension, volumetric and force, traceable to SI units and supporting national quality infrastructure.
• Technology Transfer Transfer of technological know-how on new product inventions and process technologies in Food, Herbal, Material and Biotechnology to industries, MSMEs and SMEs for commercialization, drawing from a technology bank of 500+ product technologies.
• Training Technical training programmes, seminars, workshops and certificate courses including NVQ (National Vocational Qualifications) and tailor-made courses in science and technology themes for industry workforce development.
• Consultancy Comprehensive consultancy services covering establishment of new food and herbal industries, laboratory infrastructure upgrading, environmental pollution control and mitigation, and troubleshooting of industry-related issues.
• Contract Projects Customized research and projects for industries, SMEs, national and international entities to solve technical and technological problems, including environment monitoring, waste management and air quality testing.
• Technology Manufacturing and Logistics Management (TMLD) Technology incubation, contract manufacturing and hiring of equipment services for SMEs and entrepreneurs, providing manufacturing, testing, packaging, storage, e-marketing and logistics facilities.
• Arduino-based Temperature & Humidity Monitoring Devices IoT-based monitoring solution for environmental conditions, designed for industry and laboratory applications needing continuous temperature and humidity tracking.
• Temperature & Humidity Data Logger IoT-based data logging solution for environmental monitoring, enabling continuous capture and recording of temperature and humidity data.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• COMSATScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerITI is the COMSATS Centre of Excellence in Sri Lanka. As a member state, ITI is entitled to benefits of participation in COMSATS international initiative, scientific projects & programmes, capacity building programmes, knowledge sharing and publications. ITI continued collaborations via signing agreements between COMSATS University of Islamabad and ICCBS, University of Karachi, Pakistan in 2021.
• WAITROcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerITI served as the focal point of the World Association of Industrial and Technological Research Organization (WAITRO), an independent non-governmental association founded in 1970. WAITRO brings together science, technology, innovation stakeholders, R&D organizations, and universities on an international scale providing a mechanism for members to connect, partner, share, inspire and multiply their contribution to solve global challenges.
• Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFish heads, viscera, gills, skin and fins are discarded as fish waste. ITI and with the Norwegian Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture Research under a NORAD funded project commenced a project to find methods to add value to fish waste. ITI researched methods to add value to the waste depending on quality and type. ITI transferred this technology to the Beruwela harbour.
• IDRC CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject on 'Enhancing preservation of fruits using Nanotechnology; Developing and Adopting new technologies to minimize postharvest losses in Sri Lanka' and its impact on Sustainable Development Goals. This project helps prevent postharvest fruit losses affecting millions of farmers around the world.
• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAs the United Nations lead agency on international development, UNDP works in 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality. ITI collaborates with UNDP on development projects.
• ICRISATminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndo-Sri Lanka intergovernmental Research co-operation funded research project on 'Ensuring human health, food and nutritional security through novel cereal & fruit based prebiotics' completed successfully in 2016 by the Food Technology Section of ITI.
• GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGIZ offers services to clients. ITI was funded by GIZ for equipment to establish organic testing facility and to serve organic agricultural stakeholders with accredited and internationally recognized analytical services.
• United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject for 'Upgrading Food / Herbal Pilot Plants and Establishment of Incubation Facilities at Modern R&D Complex, Industrial Technology Institute (ITI), Malabe to support Small and Medium Entrepreneurship (SME) Development in Sri Lanka'. UNIDO also recognized ITI as quality service provider for overseas calibration services.
• Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFAO is a specialized agency of the United Nations leading international efforts to defeat hunger. ITI collaborates with FAO on food-related research projects.
• USAIDminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSAID is an independent agency of the US government responsible for administering civilian foreign aid. USAID Hort CRISP funded a project on Biological based Postharvest quality maintenance and diseases control for Mango and Papaya.
• International Atomic Energy Authority (IAEA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on promoting food irradiation by electron beam and X-ray technology to enhance food safety, security and trade.
• Johns Hopkins University (JHU), USAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBiotechnology Section (BTS) initiated a contract project from JHU to process 400 serum samples collected with collaboration of Negombo Hospital Centre for Clinical Management of Dengue and Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (CCMDDHF) Unit.
• Cefas (Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science), UKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommonwealth Litter Program (CLiP) being implemented in Sri Lanka as a grant program funded by UK government through Cefas, to develop actions to address plastics entering oceans and reduce marine litter, including grant of laboratory equipment to ITI.
• University of Sydney, AustraliaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject on 'Fruits and Vegetables for sustainable Healthy Diets (FRESH) - Work Package 4: Postharvest and Inclusive Markets' started with University of Sydney and ITI, Sri Lanka.
• Yunnan Agricultural University, ChinaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnder MOU signed with Ministry of Science & Technology (MOST) China and Ministry of Higher Education Research Sri Lanka and framework agreement, ITI signed agreement with Yunnan Rural Science and Technology Service Center and Yunnan Agricultural University in Kunming, China.
• International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of KarachiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerICCBS is one of premier research establishments in developing world. ITI continued long-standing collaborations and joint programmes by signing agreements with ICCBS, Pakistan.
• International Bamboo and Rattan Organization (INBAR)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerINBAR is the multilateral development organization for promotion of bamboo and rattan. ITI collaborates with INBAR to support members in sustainable development action plans and green economic strategies.
• Asian Development Bank (ADB)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerADB Gender Gap Assessment for ITI was conducted under Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi), a grant programme attached to ADB's SME Line of Credit Project (SMELoC) in Sri Lanka.
• International Finance Corporation (IFC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIFC is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in developing countries. IFC Grant for 'Expanding Ceylon Cinnamon Exports via Research, Development & Innovation for quality improvement'.
• JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJICA's cooperation strategies for global issues aim to show development impact through Cluster Strategy. ITI collaborates with JICA on development projects.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), Taiwan: Taiwan's leading applied-research organization spanning materials, biotech, electronics, and metrology with a major technology-transfer mandate. Closely comparable as a statutory, industry-facing R&D and tech-transfer institute with IP licensing and incubation capabilities.
• National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Thailand: Thailand's national R&D agency under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation. Comparable in scope (food, biotech, materials, environment), government ownership, technology-transfer programs, and accredited testing services.
• Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India: India's national network of 38 scientific and industrial research laboratories under the Ministry of Science and Technology. Directly comparable as a government-backed, multi-disciplinary R&D, testing, and technology-transfer body serving industry, with the same statutory mandate model as ITI.
• National Institute of Fundamental Studies (NIFS), Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka's premier government research institute for fundamental sciences. Comparable as a domestic, state-funded counterpart conducting scientific research and training, and competing for the same national R&D mandate and talent pool.
• National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), USA: U.S. national metrology institute providing measurement standards, calibration, and standards-related technology. Comparable to ITI's Industrial Metrology Laboratory as a government-backed reference laboratory underpinning national quality infrastructure.
• Korea Industrial Technology Association (KOITA): Korea's national industry-research linkage body supporting SMEs with technology development, testing, and consulting. Comparable as a public-sector intermediary that transfers industrial R&D and provides testing/calibration services to manufacturers.
• SIRIM Berhad, Malaysia: Malaysia's national standards, testing, and industrial research organization. Directly comparable as a government-linked provider of accredited testing, calibration, metrology, technology transfer, and industrial consultancy across multiple disciplines.

Broad incumbents

• Intertek Group: Global TIC (testing, inspection, certification) provider serving multiple industries. Directly comparable in service portfolio to ITI's testing and calibration business for food, pharmaceuticals, materials, and consumer products.
• Bureau Veritas: International testing, inspection, and certification firm. Overlaps with ITI's accredited testing, environmental monitoring, and compliance services for industrial and government clients across food, materials, and environmental sectors.
• SGS SA: Global leader in inspection, verification, testing, and certification. Comparable as a large-scale commercial alternative for many of the testing, calibration, and compliance services ITI provides to Sri Lankan exporters and manufacturers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/iticisir
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCX_WvDT98BsYVVFORIyy48w
• Facebookfacebook.com/649031465142995
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/industrial-technology-institute

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Industrial Technology Institute