Estb. 1882

University of the Punjab

News Archives

Press Release

PU VC stresses to promote industry-academia linkages
PU VC stresses to promote industry-academia linkages


LAHORE: (Thursday, October 26, 2017): Punjab University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Zafar Moeen Nasir has stressed the need to promote industry-academia linkages for country’s economic development and resolving socio-economic issues faced by the nation. He was addressing the 2nd awareness seminar regarding Higher Education Commission of Pakistan’s newly launched initiative titled “Technology Development Fund” (TDF) for joint ventures of academia and industry organized by PU Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC) and HEC Pakistan at Law College auditorium here on Thursday. VP and Regional Chairman, the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Manzoor-ul-Haq Malik, Director ORIC Prof Dr Anjum Naseem Sabri, Director R&D Lahore Chamber of Commerce Dr Nadia Tahir, TDF Team Members including Dr Zahir Ahmad, Dr Alimgir, Dr Basit, Project coordinator Ghulam Sarwar, Tariq Aziz and others were present on the occasion.

Addressing the ceremony, Dr Zafar Moeen Nasir appreciated the HEC’s initiative and said that it was a revolutionary step which would help introduce new technologies in the market. He said that this initiative would facilitate institutions of higher learning to serve as engines for socio-economic development of Pakistan. In their briefing, members of TDF team Mr Tariq Aziz and Mr Ghulam Sarwar said as per vision 2025, that TDF aimed at developing indigenous enterprises to create appropriate jobs and stop the brain drain from Pakistan. They said that under this project HEC took an initiative to finance proposals of completed interdisciplinary applied research. They said that academically diverse range of disciplines could work together with industry under this project. Thye said that TDF would help universities shape their innovative ideas into products. They said that it would be a value addition to local raw material and have a global business potential. Dr Anjum Nasim Sabri said that TDF would provide extra-ordinary support for the researchers for development of technologies and this project would prove a game changer with regard to promotion of industry-academia linkages.