Innovation: HEC for universities to augment output

The meeting noted that under the Rs2.94 billion Technology Development Fund, 200 research projects will be funded

ISLAMABAD:

The Higher Education Commission’s innovation steering committee has suggested engaging universities to improve output of their Offices of Research, Innovation and Commercialisation.

The committee meeting, chaired by its chairman Imtiaz Rastgar, also discussed monitoring and evaluation process, development of success parameters and outreach and marketing strategy for start-up businesses in universities, said a press release issued here on Saturday.

The meeting discussed that universities would be encouraged to enhance the scope of innovation and commercialisation incubation centres. The meeting noted that under the Rs2.94 billion Technology Development Fund, 200 research projects with commercial viability will be funded in the next five years.

The innovation steering committee is mandated to further strengthen innovation and entrepreneurship activities at universities to enhance job absorption ratio and country’s economic development.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 3^rd, 2016.