ISLAMABAD: Dr. Arshad Ali, Executive Director, Higher Education Commission of Pakistan along with a delegation of HEC and local universities visited Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry and discussed matters for strengthening industry-academia linkages. Dr. Muhammad Latif Advisor (R&D) & Ms. Noshaba Awais Director (R&D) of HEC, representatives of the Offices of Research, Innovation and Commercialization (ORICs) of various universities including Haripur University, Riphah University, Sarhad University, Islamic University, Arid Agriculture University, Air University, Wah University, QAU, NUML, PIEAS, Bahria University and others were in the delegation.
Speaking at the occasion, Dr. Arshad Ali said that local universities were doing wonderful research that was being published in international magazines and newspapers. However, due to lack of industry-academia linkages, local industry was not benefiting from the research efforts of universities. He said ORICs of local universities could help the industry in resolving its key problems, improving productivity and value addition of products. He stressed that for achieving these goals, industry and universities should develop close liaison.
He said industry should develop partnerships with universities in need-based research projects. He also emphasized that universities should conduct research projects to meet the needs of industry. He said industry and universities should pick up at least five research projects that could solve the problems of industry and HEC was ready to provide funding for such projects. He assured that HEC would continue to work with ICCI for developing strong linkages between industry and academia to achieve win-win outcomes for the economy.
Muhammad Naveed, Acting President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry in his welcome remarks said that developed countries have achieved fast economic growth by promoting industry-academia linkages, but Pakistan was lagging behind in this field. He said HEC should join hands with ICCI to bring industry and universities closer so that universities could play role in resolving the major problems of industry. He stressed that universities should focus on applied research to benefit the industry. He assured that ICCI would cooperate in materializing partnerships between industry and universities in research projects that could help industry in upgradation and value addition of products.
The representatives of ORICs of universities reiterated that they would focus on research projects that could meet the needs of industry. They said industry should also come forward and partner with universities in projects of its interest.
Nisar Mirza Vice President ICCI, Zubair Ahmed Malik Chairman Founder Group, Mian Shaukat Masud, Zikria A Zia, Iftikhar Anwar Sethi, Mehmood Warraich, Tausif Zaman, Rashid Humayun and others also spoke at the occasion and offered suggestions for improving industry-academia linkages.
