ECOSF President joins the Meeting of Vice Chancellors and Heads of National R&D Organizations with the Minister for S&T
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A meeting of Vice Chancellors and Heads of R&D organizations with the Minister for Science and Technology (MosT) Mr. Fawad Hussain Chaudhry was held on 13 January 2020. It was organized and coordinated by the Advisor to Minister Mr. Hassan Syed. The objective of this meeting was to discuss a plan of S&T Innovation and wealth generation through STI Parks and start-ups at universities by developing a National S&T Parks System.
On behalf of the ECOSF, its President Prof. Dr. Manzoor Hussain Soomro attended the meeting. Dr. Soomro shared his experiences in ECO Region on IBSE implementation and the development of Science Parks networks in Iran and Turkey.
Vice Chancellors and officials shared their perceptions, wisdom and impediments in the development of entrepreneurial programmes in the meeting. They emphasized on the importance of such an initiative for Pakistan to stay ahead in knowledge age through the development and acceleration of knowledge economy. Many Vice Chancellors from the smaller cities stressed the need for investing in smaller cities and focusing on universities that do not have heavy investment in research and development but have strong industrial and agriculture base around them.
Mr. Hassan Syed, Advisor to the Minister, briefed the Vice Chancellors on recent initiatives of the Ministry of Science & Technology on the topic of knowledge economy and its acceleration. The advisor presented a proposed model for promotion of S&T based knowledge economy and start-ups linking it with a programme of Prime Minister of Pakistan for youth, called; “Kamyab Jawan Programme”. Mr. Syed pointed out that Pakistan has all the ingredients to develop strong knowledge-based economy and have invested reasonably in the research and development capacity. It is time to move research from labs to industry through a demand driven model in which innovative solutions can be offered to solve indigenous problems, using new and emerging technologies, at a fast pace.
Mr. Fawad Hussain Chaudhry, Federal Minister on Science and Technology, pointed out that Sir Syed Ahmed Khan gave us a vision for science based Muslim society that can guide us even today in the knowledge age. He agreed that future investment decisions shall focus on building capacity nationwide with an inclusive, sustainable and scalable approach. We would also initiate STEM schools with the collaboration of universities soon, he added
Great-grandson of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan Syed Ahmed Masood , Nisar Ahmed Siddiqui Vice Chancellor Sukkur IBA University, Prof. Dr. Uzma Qureshi Vice Chancellor Women University Multan, Prof. Dr. Razia Sultana Vice Chancellor SBB Women University Peshawar, Prof. Dr Akhtar Ali Malik Vice Chancellor NFC Institute of Engineering and Technology Multan, Brig. Tariq Javed (R) Advisor on Innovation PEC, Prof. Dr. Rukhsana Kausar Vice Chancellor GC Women University Sialkot, Dr. Mansoor Akbar Vice Chancellor Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan, Muhammad Raza Khan Director ORIC Comsats University, Dr. Irfan Ahmed Baig professor MNS University of Agriculture Multan, Dr. Vali Uddin Vice Chancellor of Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology Karachi, Prof. Dr. Robina Farooq Vice Chancellor GC Women University Faisalabad, Dr. Muhammad Ali Vice Chancellor Quaid I Azam University Islamabad attended the meeting and shared their views on emerging technologies and challenges regarding innovation ecosystem.
