LAHORE: Facebook and Pakistan’s Ministry of Information Technology and Telecom, along with the National Technology Fund (IGNITE), launched the first Facebook Innovation Lab in Pakistan at a ceremony attended by the policymakers and technocrats on Wednesday.
Located in the National Incubation Centre (NIC) at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), the innovation lab will focus on providing infrastructure access to developers, entrepreneurs and community groups, enabling them to network, train and grow their expertise.
It will also help developers build products and applications using emerging technology like Virtual Reality (VR).
“We are proud to launch Facebook Innovation Lab as a part of our long-term commitment to support innovation and the developer community in Pakistan. Facebook is committed to building an impactful community in Pakistan and we believe it is important to support businesses, startups and the individuals who are driving innovation to grow and succeed. We are confident that through our partnership with the Ministry of ITT, Ignite, NIC Lahore, and LUMS, Facebook Innovation Lab will not only be a unique training and innovation center, but will support a vibrant and transformative technology community in the country,” said Jason Lin, Head of Startup Programs (APAC), Facebook.
This is the first innovation lab launched by Facebook in Pakistan. The lab will give startups the infrastructure and the access they need to refine and scale their business models so they can succeed in Pakistan and scale internationally. The lab not only provides a showcase of the latest technology, but participants will be matched with mentors, as well as connect with Facebook’s global and exclusive experts, industry leaders, and specialists in product innovation, business growth, and data protection.
Attending the launch, Ignite Chief Executive Officer Yusuf Hussain said, “Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR) and Artificial Intelligence are rapidly expanding and will be major sectors of the future. Ignite’s partnership with Facebook, one of the world’s leading AR/VR development platform, will help launch this crucial 4IR technology in Pakistan in a big way.”
Participants will access FbStart, a global programme designed to help start-ups build and grow their businesses. Finally participants are encouraged to connect and support other developers and entrepreneurs through Devel
