Islamabad - Higher Education Commission (HEC) yesterday in collaboration with the France embassy and a non-profit organisation ‘Hello Tomorrow’ held a summit on Innovation and Entrepreneurship to enhance connectivity of the local talent to global opportunities.
Ambassador of France to Pakistan Martine Dorance was chief guest on the occasion while number of students, academicians and entrepreneurs attended the event.
French ambassador in her address said that ‘Hello Tomorrow’ is a French initiative promoting connectivity among young entrepreneurs from across the world and bringing experts closer to discuss future technological challenges. She said it aims at developing links between academia and start-ups.
“Arrangement of this event reflects the political will of both the governments of Pakistan and France to enhance collaboration in fostering innovation and entrepreneurship,” she said.
On this occasion, Chairman HEC Dr Mukhtar Ahmed said that technological innovations are changing the trends prevailing in different sectors and they require masses to prepare themselves to welcome the future. The chairman said that HEC is committed to promoting entrepreneurship and research activities in Pakistani universities.
According to him, Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialisation (ORIC) has been established in universities to make research work innovative and help researchers commercialise their work to increase its impact. “Over 225 companies have been incubated in technology centers established by HEC in the universities that generated around Rs480 Million in annual revenue and 940 direct employment opportunities,” said Dr Mukhtar. HEC chairman also informed that government has recently approved Technology Transfer project worth Rs3 billion to extended technical and financial support in institutions.
Dr Mukhtar admired the French government for its assistance in promoting higher education in Pakistan and its cooperation with Pakistani students studying in French universities.
Chairman Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Vice Chancellor (VC) University of Gujrat Dr Ziaul Qayyum, and executive director HEC Dr Arshad Ali were also expressed their views on this occasion.
