22/07/2026
Technologically Re Awakening a Culture of Excellence for an innovation driven economy.
Technologically Re Awakening Culture of Excellence, TRACE - Sri Lanka
Founded to transform Sri Lanka into a knowledge driven innovation economy, TRACE (Technologically Re-awaken A Culture of Excellence) stands as one of the nation's premier innovation ecosystems. Established in 2013 through a public-private collaboration between forward thinking technology entrepreneurs, and the Sri Lankan government, as their flagship project TRACE converted 18th century colonial era warehouses in Colombo into an Expert City of Innovation, where it became the home for great innovations like Vega Innovations , Jendo Innovations Inc., and innovation accelerators like Neo Ventures . TRACE serves as a vibrant launchpad for startups, research, and high tech ventures across Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM).
To propel local talent and nurture scalable ventures, TRACE drives several impactful programs tailored to bridge skill gaps and catalyze investment. “TRACE Theory to Trade (T2T)” serves as an industry focused training initiative that equips undergraduates with hands on software development skills and agile workflows, turning academic theory into commercial readiness.
Early stage entrepreneurs find support through “Project TRACE Angel X, which connects promising startups with local and international angel investors, while the TRACE R&D Grant offers crucial micro funding to help researchers and innovators commercialize their novel concepts.
Furthermore, community engagement thrives through hosting events such as Disrupt Asia, Sri Lanka's biggest innovation festival, The SHED, a regular meetup series where founders, mentors, experts, bureaucrats and ecosystem builders exchange insights, and SpeakUp Sri Lanka, a bridge between citizens and institutions, using petitions as a tool for direct advocacy.
Recognizing that sustainable technological growth must extend beyond Colombo, TRACE has actively established regional hubs across the island. A flagship example is the TRACE BREAD Centre in Makandura by National Enterprise Development Authority, Ministry of Industries & Wayamba University, a specialized incubation facility tailored to empower food, agriculture, and bio tech entrepreneurs. By offering prototyping tools, specialized equipment, and dedicated mentorship, the Makandura hub accelerates sustainable farming and agri-tech solutions for the broader region. Alongside other regional extensions like the TRACE-JRDC Incubator for water technology in Kandy, TRACE continuously expands its reach, uniting visionary leadership, grassroots talent, and strategic funding to elevate Sri Lanka onto the global high-tech stage.
