RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: There is no dearth of talent in the country but need-based research is pivotal for the socio-economic development, said Rana Tanveer Hussain, Federal Minister of Science and Technology on Friday.

Addressing 5th Higher Education Commission (HEC) outstanding research award ceremony, he urged local investors to give tasks to researchers instead of foreigners to strengthen links between industry and academia.

“Education is the single mean to ensure socio-economic development of a country as it provides skilled human resource for the society”, he added.

We have to focus on need-based research so that it could deliver to the society and its practical utility could benefit our economy, he said, adding that flawless academic system and strong research culture are a prerequisite for this purpose.

Appreciating contribution by HEC to promotion research culture, Rana said that the HEC spearheaded research excellence in Pakistani universities and promoted indigenous research environment. He stressed the need for harmonizing research activities with the national needs.

He chalked out that the researches done in past are more focused on theory and are less focused on public needs and market demands, adding this has created clear difference between the research and the real time needs of the society.

“If we are to gain from all fields and faculties of natural as well as social sciences, the research scholars must pay more attention towards their practical research activities on real need based problem areas,” he added.

Rana said that during their visit to China for a forum on Science & Technology earlier this month, the Chinese Universities showed their interest in funding for viable and practical areas of research in Pakistan.

He said that the role of HEC has been widely acclaimed and internationally recognized owning to its programmes for promotion of higher education in the country.

Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed said the HEC is focusing on the relevance of research so that it could meet the national needs. He said the number of publications in impact factor research journals has increased considerably since a meager 800 in 2002 to over 10,000 in 2014-15 as the HEC has provided researchers with an enabling environment. “HEC has been ensuring provision of necessary infrastructure to the universities,” he added.

Giving an overview of the initiatives, the Commission offers to promote research, chairman said these include travel grants, research grant, patent filing support and offices of Research, Innovation and Commerciali-zation and Business Incubation Centres in universities that are promoting innovation and commercialization. HEC launched collaborative research projects with different countries including the United States and France, UK and Germany while three Centres of Excellence in Energy Sector, Water and Food Security have already been established in Pakistan. Work to set up another Centre on climate change in the next financial year is already in-progress. He also shared HEC’s proposed measures for technology transfer with focus on various fields like electronic, nanotechnology and automobiles with support from South Korea.