CSF helps advance ideas on navigating the exciting, and indeed challenging, transitions in our economy that require smart pathways anchored to innovation, inclusiveness, and sustainability.
Charting a smarter future, from a low-middle country dependent on aid and concessions, to an upper middle-income economy, needs to be driven by competitiveness, inclusion and innovation, greater exposure to the global economy, and heightened consciousness of inequality and ecology. To make this transition successfully and justly, we require greater imagination in socio-economic policies, policy implementation, and business strategies. Private and public responses must be anticipatory of future trends and anchored to real people’s real needs. Solutions to development challenges must be iterative, pragmatic and informed by evidence.
FIVE CHALLENGES
WE ARE WORKING ON
ABOUT US
The Centre for a Smart Future (CSF) Asia-centric hub for advancing great ideas
where young professionals work in an interdisciplinary, contemporary and solutions-oriented way. It is a virtual think tank headquartered in Colombo, with a network of practitioners, researchers, policy professionals and thought leaders across the world.
THE FORUM
Insights and thought leadership from our network
"The Smart Future Forum features insights and thought leadership from our network of policy professionals and development practitioners on topics relating to CSF’s thematic areas. Here you will find articles, reports, essays, op-eds, interviews, and more."
OUR INITIATIVES
Re:Wild Initiative to better consider nature in economic growth
Under our 'Re:Wild' initiative, we are working with stakeholders in business and finance, and conservation and ecology, to improve understanding on the value of natural capital and opportunities for leveraging finance to protect the environment. We bring the economics and finance professionals closer to those in environmental science and climate change. We have introduced new initiatives like climate disclosure standards through partnerships with international and local counterparts.
Knowledge insights to drive reforms in international competitiveness of the economy
Sri Lanka's performance in international trade, investment and competitiveness has lagged behind its peers. Through our knowledge insights, public engagements, and research in the areas of export strategy, international trade and investment, and economic competitiveness, we provide fresh perspectives on existing issues, and help stakeholders envision a new trajectory of outward-oriented growth for the economy
Making the technology transition inclusive and sustainable
As technology changes every aspect of our lives, shifting the narrative on what it means to forge a 'smart' economy is needed, to ensure a just technology transition that is inclusive. Through our work with think tanks and researchers in the South Asian region and beyond, we are pioneering new thinking on digital technology policies and governance, technology and the future of work, and the role of technology in trade.
Introducing new thinking in urbanisation and inclusive cities through our Colombo Urban Lab
The Colombo Urban Lab is a flagship initiative that provides a collaborative and interdisciplinary space that enables connections between research, practice and public policy.
FOCUS THEMATIC AREAS
The Centre focuses primarily on five key thematic areas, symbolised by the five quadrants in the logo.
Innovation and inclusion are fundamental cross-cutting themes, and our work in these necessarily intersecting.
