ISLAMABAD - With eyeing rapid national development in the present information age and globally competing knowledge-driven economies, speakers at the COMSATS workshop stressed for having an integrated mechanism of national innovation system and intellectual property for rapid and diverse progress.
The speakers including Pakistani and international executives presented their presentations during the three-day COMSATS-ISESCO Regional Consultative Workshop on National Innovation System and Intellectual Property concluded here on Wednesday. Main purpose of the workshop, which was jointly organized by COMSATS, ISESCO and COMSATS CIIT, was to raise understanding of the participants on NIS and IP rights and policies, as well as to share, learn and build on the best practices harnessing innovation and IP regime.
During the total eight technical sessions of the workshop, the focus of talks and presentations were the topics related to introduction to innovation, types and classification of innovations, impact and effects of innovation on national economy; delivery mechanisms for and key agents and actors in a national innovation system; IP issues; industries, research and technologies centers; knowledge-economy; international IP laws; IPRs role in promoting a knowledge economy; and patent filing, prosecution and enforcement.
An insight into the innovation policies of developing countries was also provided during the event in the country presentations from Nepal, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Iran.
The workshop deliberations focused on enabling a policy framework for an effective and integrated NIS and IP rights, as well as the roles of key stakeholders in an economy. The consultative workshop focused on Asian region.
A large number of scholars from Pakistan as well as from international organizations, academic institutions, and IP and law firms from Bangladesh, China, Iran, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Morocco, Nepal, Pakistan, South Korea and Sri Lanka participated the workshop. These institutions and organizations included World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Switzerland; Intellectual Property Organization (IPO) Pakistan; COMSATS Headquarters Pakistan; COMSTECH; Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China; School of Economics and Management, Tongji University, China; Tribhuvan University, Nepal; Coordinating Secretariat for Science, Technology and Innovation (COSTI), Sri Lanka; Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), Iranian Research Organization for Science and Technology (IROST); H.C. Park & Associates, USA; and JUS & REM, Pakistan.
Executive Director COMSATS, Dr. Imtinan Elahi Qureshi, who presided over the closing ceremony, noted that the developing countries will have to strengthen their intellectual property organizations in order to improve the NIS delivery mechanism. He appreciated the participation of World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Switzerland, and Pakistan's Intellectual Property Organization (IPO) in the workshop.
Prof. Sirimali Fernando, the CEO of Coordinating Secretariat for Science, Technology and Innovation (COSTI), Sri Lanka, in her vote of thanks on behalf of the invited speakers, expressed pleasure for having the opportunity to participate in a highly informative workshop that comprised excellent technical presentations on various aspects of NIS and IP. She also desired to build on the existing relations between COSTI and COMSATS.
In his remarks on the occasion, Rector CIIT and President INIT, Dr. S. M. Junaid Zaidi applauded the organizers, speakers and participants in making the event a success. Advisor (Programmes) COMSATS, Tajammul Hussain, in his vote of thanks on behalf of the organizers, thanked the collaborating organizations and noted that the 2nd and 3rd workshops on the theme are expected to be held in near future for African and Middle East regions.