Innovation: Research community aims to boost R&D

PCSIR plans technology parks for various cities and industries.

ISLAMABAD:

The Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) is aiming to enhance the development of indigenous technologies and processes and skilled manpower to help the industrial sector to increase their productivity, by establishing Science and Technology Parks (S&T Parks) with the technical assistance of Iranian institutes that will provide technical and vocational expertise, and entrepreneurship and leadership training.

The main objective of establishing these parks is to encourage knowledge creation at the cutting edge and develop organisation, human and social capital to compete in the global economy, said officials.

These parks will build networks stretching far beyond major institutions to include a comprehensive knowledge ecosystem of entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, professors, students and professionals and under-privileged communities for mentoring and learning.

These parks will include an Entrepreneurship and Innovation Centre, Research and Development Centre, Science Centre, Technology Incubation Centre, Manufacturing Resource Centre, IT and Telecom Data Centre and a Learning Academy.

“In line with global trends, the park will hopefully get transformed into an economic engine, eventually fuelling the Regional knowledge ecosystems,” said an official.

According to official sources each S&T Park will host a Research Commercialisation Centre, University-Industry liaison nucleus, event management and recreational facilities.

Officials said these parks will become a hub for public and private technological enhancement and development of human capital.

Moreover, the park will have a distinctive Knowledge Brokering facility by means of which it will act as an Information intermediary to provide advice on selection of goods or services, business intelligence, or research data to interested parties.

These parks will promote interaction between institutional elements, bodies of knowledge and virtual communities to create job opportunities and link local assets to global and domestic markets.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 17^th, 2013.

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