Act 2 (j) Southern Sudan Research Council Act 2007 lay down appropriate criteria for assisting the private sector to employ scientific research as means of improving the standard of performance and promoting production efficiency; (k) ensure that any form of aid or assistance related to research offered by local, national, regional and international organisations and institutions is geared towards achievement of the objectives and programmes of the Council; (l) within the framework of its competences, design programmes and priorities for providing aid to universities, research institutions, relevant institutes and other scientific societies in Southern Sudan; (m) give advice and provide consultation to the Government or any of its units or public corporations on any matter concerning scientific research and on such other matters which may facilitate the regulation of the rights of industrial ownership, patent rights and copyrights concerning researchers; (n) offers scholarships and award prizes to individuals, government institutions, public corporations, private sector and other societies in matters related to scientific research; (o) disseminate knowledge through the publication of its research findings through all forms be it written, audio, visual or otherwise; and 8. (p) any other function relevant to research. Powers of the Council. In furtherance of the said objectives, the Council may— 7