Building Industry-Academia Linkages
ISLAMABAD (Wednesday, May 9, 2018): The Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan has invited researchers and academicians to submit their proposals under Technology Development Fund (TDF) in its third call for proposals by August 30, 2018.
TDF is a five-year Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) approved project worth Rs. 2.91 billion aiming to support joint proposals of academia and industry to ensure prototype product development and its commercialisation, said Ayesha Ikram, HEC Director Media in a statement issued here on Wednesday.
Against the second call for proposals, 276 proposals were received, out of which 91 proposals were approved in 25 different industrial sectors including agriculture engineering, IT, nanotechnology, industries symbiosis, renewable energy, mining, and applied engineering sciences, whereas against the first call for proposals in FY 2016-17, 35 out of 116 received proposals were approved in correspondence with 16 different industrial sectors, Ayesha said.
The TDF is one of the flagship projects of HEC towards accomplishment of Vision 2025 of Government of Pakistan with an aim of industrial development through technology transfer from academia to industry to build knowledge-based economy.
Under the project Tier II, research of academicians will be supported financially with Rs. 14 million for commercialisation of products, patent filing, prototype development, initial product development, marketing and licensing of new products.
Since its inception, TDF is playing a vital role in promotion of academia-industry linkages and to mobilise local industries to team up with academicians to pitch their joint proposals. Moreover, the TDF has won trust of renowned industries including Sazgar engineering, Engro, Fauji Group of Companies, Shezan, Metro-Habib Cash & Carry, Shafi Reso Chemical, TCS, Qarshi Industries, Muree Brewery, Starco Fans, Saffron, Pioneer Cement, Seasons Foods, Shama Ghee, SUZU, Shakarganj, etc.
These industries and many others have joined hands with academicians to transfer technology, employment creation and revenue generation through innovation which is a success on account of HEC and TDF, Ayesha Ikram added.
Further details can be viewed at: www.hec.gov.pk/site/tdf