Harnessing Nepal’s Global Diaspora for Science, Technology and Innovation To Build A Knowledge-Driven Economy

Nepal stands at a critical juncture in its economic and social development. For decades, remittances from Nepali workers abroad have played a vital role in sustaining the national economy and supporting millions of families. Yet Nepal must now move beyond a predominantly remittance-driven model toward an economy that is increasingly knowledge based, innovation-oriented and technologically competitive. In this transition, Nepal’s global diaspora represents one of the country’s greatest under utilised resources.

Nepalis living and working around the world have acquired expertise across science, technology, engineering, medicine, agriculture, information technology, entrepreneurship, education, research and public policy. They are connected to leading universities, research institutions, technology companies, healthcare systems, investment networks and innovation ecosystems across more than 80 countries. In an era increasingly shaped by DNA technologies, artificial intelligence and rapid technological change, the question is not whether Nepal possesses the human capital needed for transformation. The real question is whether Nepal can build the institutions, policies and platforms necessary to connect this global knowledge base with national priorities.

The Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) has increasingly recognised that meaningful diaspora engagement must extend beyond remittances and financial investment.

Knowledge, skills, technology, innovation, mentorship and global professional networks are equally important forms of investment in Nepal’s future. Mobilising these resources can help the country address the challenges of brain drain, strengthen research and development capacity, foster entrepreneurship, improve public services and accelerate the transition toward a knowledge-based economy.

The Government of Nepal’s renewed commitment to science and technology, including the establishment of a dedicated Ministry of Science and Technology, provides an important opportunity to translate this vision into action. A stronger institutional framework can create mechanisms through which Nepali scientists, technologists, entrepreneurs, researchers and professionals abroad can contribute systematically to national development without necessarily having to return permanently.

Nepal now needs a coordinated national strategy for diaspora knowledge mobilisation—one that links the government, universities, research institutions, the private sector and the NRNA. Such a strategy could establish global expert networks, visiting and virtual fellowship programmes, joint research initiatives, technology-transfer platforms, innovation funds, mentorship programmes and mechanisms for diaspora professionals to advise government on emerging technologies and national priorities.

The objective should not simply be to bring people back to Nepal, but to bring their knowledge, networks, ideas, technologies and global experience into Nepal’s development ecosystem. If effectively organised, the Nepali diaspora can become not only a source of remittances, but a global extension of Nepal’s research, innovation and entrepreneurial capacity.

The next phase of Nepal’s development should therefore be defined by a shift from remittance to knowledge, from brain drain to brain circulation, and from dependence to innovation. The country has a global Nepali community with extraordinary potential. The opportunity before Nepal is to build the institutional bridges that can turn that potential into national capability.

Nepal’s STI Challenge
The newly elected government has made policy commitments to science, technology and innovation (STI) with the reformation of a new ministry dedicated to science, technology and Innovation. However Investment in research and development remains low due to inadequate national ecosystem and faces significant structural challenges. Universities, industries and government institutions like NAST often operate in isolation, limiting opportunities for collaborative research and commercialization. Promising research outputs frequently fail to reach the market, while bureaucratic barriers make innovation and entrepreneurship difficult.
At the same time, Nepal continues to lose highly skilled professionals to countries that offer stronger research infrastructure, better career opportunities and more competitive innovation environments. It is estimated that potentially 150,000–250,000 IT and other professionals, including nurses and medical and S&T researchers, have migrated between 2010 and 2036. This continuing brain drain represents both a challenge and an opportunity.

The Nepali diaspora can help transform brain drain into brain circulation by creating mechanisms that enable scientists, engineers, doctors, academics, entrepreneurs, and other professionals living abroad to contribute to Nepal without necessarily having to relocate permanently. Diaspora professionals can provide access to international research collaborations, advanced technologies, investment, mentorship, institutional partnerships and global markets. Properly structured, these connections can significantly strengthen Nepal’s domestic innovation ecosystem.

From Remittance to Knowledge Investment
Nepal's has traditionally focused heavily on diaspora remittances. Financial flows remain important, but the concept of knowledge investment deserves equal strategic attention. Knowledge investment encompasses the transfer of expertise, research capabilities, technologies, professional networks, entrepreneurial experience and institutional knowledge from the diaspora to Nepal.

NRNA has explicitly prioritised this approach through the establishment of the Skill, Knowledge and Technology Transfer (SKTT) Department, with the objective of mobilizing the knowledge, skills, innovation and capital of Nepalis abroad for the country's socioeconomic transformation. This approach recognizes that capital and knowledge are mutually reinforcing. Financial investment can establish a company or laboratory, but knowledge and technical expertise are necessary to ensure that the investment produces sustainable value.

Similarly, skilled professionals can introduce technologies and ideas, but access to capital and entrepreneurial ecosystems is often necessary to turn those ideas into products and enterprises. The combination of knowledge, technology, entrepreneurship and capital can therefore create a much stronger foundation for national development.

Building a National STI Ecosystem
Nepal needs a coordinated National Innovation System connecting universities, research institutions, government, industry, startups and the diaspora. Such an ecosystem should be built around national priorities rather than isolated projects. Mission-driven innovation programs could focus on areas where Nepal has both significant needs and comparative advantages, including agriculture, healthcare, clean energy, climate resilience and digital technologies. The Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) and Universities should be strengthened to participate in global research networks and international partnerships. Research institutions should have greater autonomy, competitive funding and stronger links with industry. A National STI Council, chaired at the highest level of government and involving representatives from academia, industry, the private sector and the diaspora, could provide strategic coordination and ensure that STI policy becomes an integral part of national development planning

Institutionalizing Diaspora Engagement
Diaspora participation should be on a permanent institutional framework. One important proposal is the creation of a Global Nepali Scientific Network Platform that would map and connect Nepali scientists, engineers, researchers, doctors, entrepreneurs and technology professionals around the world. Such a platform could facilitate:
• Diaspora adjunct professorships
• Visiting scientist and researcher programs
• Joint research projects
• Dual affiliations between Nepali and international institutions
• Scientific and technological mentorship
• Startup and entrepreneurship support
• Technology-transfer partnerships
• Reverse brain-drain programs
• Access to international research facilities and funding

This would enable diaspora professionals to contribute according to their expertise and availability, whether through short-term visits, remote collaboration, joint appointments, investment or long-term return. NRNA Skill Knowledge and Innovation Department's objective is to Institutionalize Diaspora Engagement but with limited success.

Increasing Investment in Research and Development
Nepal Govt decision to form a separate Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation and increase budget to 1% of the budget reflects Government priority for S&T with emphasis on innovation to create a knowledge economy to institutionalize the discovery, research, innovation, promotion and development of science and technology.

However, this is not possible without sustained R&D investment. Nepal should establish a clear roadmap to increase national R&D expenditure to at least 1 per cent from the current 0.3 per cent of GDP, with a longer-term ambition of reaching 2 per cent. A National Research and Innovation Fund could provide competitive funding for research, applied science, innovation and commercialization. Government resources should be complemented by contributions from private industry, international partners and the Nepali diaspora. Tax incentives could further encourage private-sector investment in R&D. The objective should be to create a system where researchers and innovators can move from idea to research, research to prototype, prototype to enterprise and enterprise to the global market.

Technology Transfer and Commercialization
One of Nepal's major STI weaknesses is the limited commercialization of research. Universities should establish Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) to help researchers protect intellectual property, develop prototypes, identify commercial partners and establish startups. Innovation hubs, incubators and science and technology parks can provide the physical and institutional infrastructure required by emerging enterprises. Diaspora scientists and entrepreneurs can play an important role by connecting Nepali innovators with international markets, investors, laboratories and technology companies. The diaspora can therefore become not only a source of expertise but also a bridge between Nepal's innovators and the global innovation economy.

Prioritizing Emerging Technologies
Nepal cannot afford to pursue every technological field simultaneously. National resources should be concentrated on emerging technologies with strong potential for economic and social impact. Priority areas should include:
o Artificial intelligence and data science
o Biotechnology and health innovation
o Clean energy and climate technologies
o Agricultural technology and food innovation
o Robotics and automation
o Digital public infrastructure
o Advanced environmental technologies

The country's technology-import strategy should also be reviewed to ensure that Nepal does not become dependent on outdated or environmentally unsustainable technologies. Instead, technology adoption should support a green, digital and employment-generating future.

Nepal’s Unique Innovation Opportunities
Nepal's geographical, ecological and cultural characteristics create opportunities for innovation that cannot simply be replicated elsewhere. Mountain agriculture, medicinal plants, biodiversity, traditional knowledge, natural products, tourism, hydropower and climate adaptation are areas in which Nepal can develop specialized expertise and potentially exportable technologies. Nepal can combine traditional knowledge with modern science to develop new solutions in agriculture, healthcare, biotechnology, sustainable development and the bio-economy. The country's mountainous geography also creates opportunities to develop technologies
for renewable energy, resilient infrastructure, mountain farming, water management and climate adaptation. The diaspora can help connect these local opportunities with global scientific expertise and markets.

Education as the Foundation of Innovation
A sustainable STI ecosystem must begin with education. Nepal needs to move from an education system which help develops research, creativity, critical thinking, experimentation and problem-solving skills. STEM education should be strengthened alongside technical and vocational education. Universities should work more closely with industry to design curricula that reflect emerging technological and economic needs. Diaspora academics can contribute through joint courses, online teaching, curriculum development, research supervision and faculty development. Such partnerships can expose Nepali students and researchers to international standards without requiring every student to leave Nepal.

Talent Retention, Return and Brain Circulation
Nepal's most important innovation resource is its people. To retain and attract scientists and technology professionals, the country needs competitive research grants, modern laboratories, career pathways and institutional recognition. Returnee scientists and entrepreneurs should be offered targeted packages that could
include research funding, tax incentives, infrastructure and institutional support. At the same time, Nepal should not define diaspora engagement only in terms of permanent return. The more realistic objective is brain circulation—creating continuous movement of knowledge, people, technologies and ideas between Nepal and the rest of the world. A scientist may work abroad while supervising research in Nepal. An entrepreneur may establish a Nepali technology company while maintaining an international business. A university professor may hold appointments in both Nepal and another country. Such models can make the diaspora an extension of Nepal's national knowledge system.

Public–Private–Diaspora Partnerships
The government alone cannot build Nepal's innovation economy. A stronger model, like the Australian Government's Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Program which funds long-term, industry-led collaborations between businesses, researchers, and government end-users could be considered to bring together government,
private industry, universities, startups and the diaspora through Public–Private–Diaspora Partnerships (PPDPs). Diaspora co-investment platforms could support high-tech enterprises, while joint ventures could bring international technology, management expertise and capital into Nepal. Innovation clusters focused on areas such as information technology, biotechnology, clean energy and advanced agriculture could create concentrated ecosystems in which researchers, companies, investors and government agencies work together, establishing cooperative research programs. This approach could generate high-value employment, fast￾track commercialisation and reduce dependence on low-skilled overseas employment.

Digital Transformation and Smart Governance
Nepal Govt's focus on e-governance, digital public infrastructure and data-driven decision making is the right step in the right direction. Digital systems can also reduce bureaucratic barriers affecting researchers, entrepreneurs and investors. Diaspora experts working in technology and public-sector transformation can contribute significantly to these efforts by sharing international experience and helping develop locally appropriate solutions.

Regulatory Reform for Innovation
Innovation requires an enabling regulatory environment. Nepal should simplify procedures for research funding, startup registration, intellectual property protection and technology commercialization. Regulatory sandboxes could allow emerging technologies to be tested under controlled conditions before full-scale regulation is introduced. Policy should also provide greater certainty to investors, researchers and entrepreneurs. A predictable regulatory environment would make Nepal more attractive to both domestic and diaspora investors.

The Global Nepali Innovation Network
A flagship initiative proposed through collaboration between the Government of Nepal and NRNA is the Global Nepali Innovation Network (GNIN). The GNIN could become a permanent mechanism for connecting Nepali scientists, researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs and investors around the world. Its functions could include:
• Connecting global Nepali scientific and technological talent.
• Facilitating research collaboration and investment.
• Organizing an annual global innovation summit.
• Supporting startups and technology-transfer activities.
• Creating mentorship networks for young Nepali innovators.
• Facilitating international research and university partnerships.
• Promoting diaspora investment in strategic innovation sectors.
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Such a network would transform diaspora engagement from a collection of individual activities into an integrated national innovation resource.

NRNA’s Contribution to Nepal’s Knowledge Economy
NRNA has already taken several steps toward institutionalizing diaspora knowledge engagement. Through the SKTT Department and related initiatives, NRNA has sought to mobilize diaspora expertise across science, technology, education, health, engineering, agriculture, ICT and other fields.
Its initiatives and institutional contributions include support for Nepal Open University, the Nepal Science Foundation, the International Coordination Health Committee, the Global Knowledge Convention (GKC) and sector-specific advisory committees. These initiatives demonstrate an important evolution in the role of the diaspora: from being primarily a source of remittances to becoming a partner in knowledge creation, institutional development and policy formulation. NRNA's contribution can broadly be organised into three areas Science, Technology and Innovation, Education and Capacity Building, Policy and Governance

Lessons from the 3rd Global Knowledge Convention
NRNA organises Global Knowledge Innovation every two years. The 3rd Global KnowledgeConvention from 17–18 October 2023 in Kathmandu under the theme “Science, Technology, Innovation and Investment for Socio-economic Development of Nepal,” brought together Nepali diaspora scholars, researchers and stakeholders from Nepal and abroad. The convention recognized that science, technology and innovation must be central to Nepal's socioeconomic transformation and endorsed a ten-point declaration. Among its key recommendations was the creation of a consortium involving government, private industry, startups and entrepreneurs, academic and scientific institutions, NRNA's SKTT Department, and returnee professionals, scientists and entrepreneurs.

The convention also recommended that a proposed national applied science, technology, inventions and innovation fund should support bottom-up approaches, grassroots innovation and collaborative STI activities involving diaspora and Nepali scientific partners.

Another significant recommendation was that the Government of Nepal and NRNA initially contribute NPR 1 crore each to the Nepal Science Foundation Trust to develop a roadmap for mobilizing diaspora scientific and technological expertise in research, development, innovation and incubation, while initiating global scholar-exchange fellowship programs.

The convention further recommended stronger R&D investment, including consideration of a requirement for government and private corporations to allocate at least 1 per cent of their budgets to research and development, accompanied by appropriate tax incentives. It also proposed a jointly supported research and development endowment involving government, industry and NRNA.

Innovation for Agriculture, Health and Sustainability
The GKC recommendations emphasized that Nepal has the opportunity to develop its own innovative solutions by combining modern science with traditional knowledge, culture, ecological diversity and indigenous practices. Agriculture, emotional well-being, the bio-economy and sustainable development are particularly promising areas. Nepal should also invest in technologies suited to its geographical and environmental conditions rather than simply importing technologies developed for very different contexts. This means encouraging innovation that is affordable, sustainable, locally relevant and capable of creating employment within Nepal.

A Ten-Year Roadmap
A practical roadmap can translate the vision into measurable outcomes.

Short Term: 1–2 Years Nepal and NRNA should:
o Launch the Global Nepali Scientific/Innovation Network.
o Establish a National Research and Innovation Fund.
o Pilot visiting scientist and diaspora fellowship programs.
o Map Nepali scientific and technological expertise worldwide.
o Establish mechanisms for diaspora participation in national policy discussions.

Medium Term: 3–5 Years. The focus should shift toward:
o Developing innovation hubs and science parks.
o Increasing R&D expenditure toward 1 per cent of GDP.
o Strengthening university-industry collaboration.
o Expanding technology-transfer offices.
o Developing startup incubation and commercialization programs.
o Establishing sector-specific innovation clusters.
Long Term: 5–10 Years Nepal should aim to:
o Become a regional innovation hub.
o Establish strong global research collaboration networks.
o Increase private-sector R&D investment.
o Develop globally competitive technology companies.
o Create high-value employment opportunities.
o Build a genuinely knowledge-based economy.

From Brain Drain to Brain Circulation
The most important conceptual shift is to recognize that migration and national development do not have to be opposing forces. Nepalis abroad can remain deeply
connected to Nepal through research, investment, teaching, entrepreneurship, mentorship and institutional partnerships.

The objective should therefore be to transform brain drain into brain circulation. A Nepali scientist working in Europe, North America, Australia, Asia or elsewhere can contribute to Nepal's scientific development through joint research. A Nepali technology entrepreneur abroad can establish operations in Nepal. A medical professional can support health innovation and training. An academic can supervise students and researchers remotely or through visiting appointments. When institutions make such contributions easy and meaningful, migration becomes a source of national capability rather than simply a loss of talent. NRNA SKI initiatives were implemented in 2009 to translate this into real opportunities.

Key Challenges
Despite growing interest, several barriers must be addressed. These include weak institutional linkages, limited incentives for diaspora participation, bureaucratic procedures, fragmented initiatives and the absence of systematic knowledge-transfer mechanisms. There is also a need to ensure that diaspora engagement is demand-driven and aligned with Nepal's national priorities. The objective should not be to import foreign models without adaptation. Instead, Nepal should combine international expertise with local knowledge, institutions and socioeconomic realities.

Conclusion: Building Nepal’s Innovation Future Together
Nepal has a rare opportunity to transform its global diaspora into a strategic national asset. The Nepali diaspora already possesses scientific expertise, entrepreneurial experience, technological knowledge, international networks and investment capacity. What is needed is an institutional framework capable of connecting these resources with Nepal's development priorities. The future of Nepal's STI ecosystem should therefore be built on a partnership among government, universities, research institutions, private industry, startups and the global Nepali diaspora through jointly funded national cooperative research projects in niche
areas. NRNA's emphasis on knowledge investment, together with its SKTT initiatives and the recommendations emerging from the Global Knowledge Convention, provides an important foundation for this partnership. The goal should be larger than simply attracting people back to Nepal. It should be about creating a continuous exchange of knowledge, skills, technology, innovation, capital and opportunities between Nepal and the world. If Nepal can establish the right institutions, collaboration and partnership (Internally and globally), increase investment in R&D, reform education, support entrepreneurship, strengthen technology transfer and systematically engage its diaspora, it can move from a remittance-dependent economy toward a knowledge- and innovation-driven economy. The Nepali diaspora should not be viewed merely as people who have left Nepal. They can be partners in building the Nepal of the future. NRNA stands ready to work with the Government of Nepal and other stakeholders to turn this vision into practical programs, partnerships and measurable outcomes.

The writer is Chairperson of Nepal Science Foundation Trust (NSFT) and Advisor of NRNA ICC, Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA)