One day conference on 'Building Innovative Pakistan through Science, Technology and Innovation policy' held – President ECOSF invited as a Guest Speaker
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A one-day conference on 'Building Innovative Pakistan through Science, Technology and Innovation policy' was co-organized by the Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) and Institute of Research Promotion (IRP) in collaboration with Mehran University Institute of Science and Technology Development (MUISTD), ECO Science Foundation (ECOSF), Pakistan-France Alumni Network (PFAN), University of Management and Technology (UMT), Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), Ripah Institute of Public Policy (RIPP) and Institute of Space Technology (IST) on February 14, 2019 at QAU.
The event was an effort to respond to emerging challenges and focus on factors of the triple helix model for understanding the science, technology, and innovation policy, governance and innovation ecosystem.
The panelists highlighted various ways and means to connect science with society, strengthen education and STI organisations, increase exports, develop industries and achieve socioeconomic development through science and technology initiatives. Speakers presented various model policies for science and technology- led economic growth of Pakistan.
Mr. Shafqat Mahmood, Federal Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training was the Chief Guest in the event. He underlined importance of Science, Technology and innovation ecosystem and Education in the country to achieve economic growth in Pakistan. We have to make our higher educational institutes as centers of excellence with people of great knowledge, he added.
Prof. Dr. Manzoor Hussain Soomro, President ECOSF while delivering his address underscored the need for developing adequate human capital in the country that could be achieved with effective implementation of existing Science, Technology and Innovation policies. He highlighted that quality education at schools is the key to achieve robust scientific and technological capacity at higher institutions. This is where the Inquiry Based Science Education can play its role to provide quality input for the universities.
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ali, Vice Chancellor QAU while addressing the conference emphasized on the need for a policy change to encourage the faculty for innovation and collaboration. He said the Faculty appointment and promotion in the Universities should be on the basis of applied work done, industrial linkages, and market based research projects of social sector.
Abid H K Shirwani CEO, IRP said that Science & Technology progress has direct links with economic progress of any country, our exports to a competitive market largely depends on S&T budgets and S&T quality in the country.
Mr. Mushtaq Ahmed, Chairman, Senate Standing Committee for Science & Technology, said that innovation should not merely be a discovery; it should also be time value creation. He said that passion to serve the nation through science & technology should be inculcated in all academicians and policy makers.
Prof. Dr. Anees Ahmed by Vice Chancellor, Riphah International University and Dr. Marc Baréty, Ambassador of France to Pakistan also addressed the conference.