LAHORE - Country’s all 16 research institutions, working under the banner of Ministry of Science and Technology, have unfortunately very little interaction with the industry.
This was the crux of the speeches and presentations made at a seminar jointly organized by the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry and STEDEC.
The speakers said that the industry should further strengthen its collaboration with research institutions to ensure a respectable place for Pakistan among the innovative nations of the world.
Dr Shahid Hussain said that there are 16 research institutions that are working under the banner of Ministry of Science and Technology but unfortunately they have little interaction with the real stakeholders. These institutions are well equipped to do customized research for the industrialists provided they are approached. He said that Pakistan in far behind in innovation only because of little interaction between researchers and the industry. He said that in today’s world only those organizations could achieve the real success that have access to modern techniques and working methodologies. He said that the Chambers of commerce in the country should play their role proactive the strengthen linkage between these two important sector of the economy. LCCI President Engineer Sohail Lashari, Executive Director Commercialisation Cell of Ministry of Science and Technology Dr Syed Shahid Hussain, Dr Quratul Ain from PCSIR, Ahmed Nadeem Siddique, Samiullah Sheikh, Managing Director STEDEC Engineer S K Mohyuddin, LCC EC members Mian Zahid Javed, Naseeb Ahmad Saifi and LCCI Secretary General Syed Mohammad Saqlain were the main speakers.
Speaking on the occasion, LCCI President Engineer Sohail Lashari said that there are number of research institutes which are working to find the most suitable ways as to how the local producers can upgrade their processes.
Due to communication gaps and having no proper linkages among the research institutes and private sectors, the country and its economy is losing on many accounts.
“You will agree with me that we lag terribly behind in producing the desired results because of lack of awareness in the private sector and little efforts being made to encourage them to consider these options. It is high time that our local entrepreneurs related to food and its associated sectors must be motivated to modernize their processes in collaboration with these institutes. Similarly, the management of such institutions shares the responsibility to highlight the benefits of adopting these technologies. The LCCI President suggested that the cost factor of availing such facilities should be as minimized as possible.
He said that transfer of knowledge is an area where the industry should focus and for the purpose the educational and research institutions have a key role to play.