Prizes distributed among winners of the 2014 Cleantech Pakistan competition

Lahore: An impressive awards distribution ceremony was held in Islamabad on 16 October where the winners of the 2014 Cleantech Pakistan competition were presented their awards by Zahid Hamid, Federal Minister for Science and Technology (MoST).

The awards were distributed under the Global Cleantech Innovation Programme (GCIP-Pak) for SMEs which is implemented by United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) with the support of Pakistan Council for Science and Technology (PCST), National Productivity Organization (NPO) and Pakistan Institute of Management (PIM). This Global Environment Facility (GEF) funded project is working closely with the programme’s knowledge partner – the Cleantech Open – the biggest cleantech accelerator in the United States of America. The GCIP-Pakistan fosters innovations in Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy, Waste to Energy and Water Efficiency as part of the larger global programme currently operating in six countries.

This year, the programme has supported twenty-eight SMEs and Startups in Pakistan through a programme of extensive mentoring, training, access to investors and opportunities to showcase their innovations. Winners were given prizes ranging from US$ 25,000 to US$ 30,000, plus the National Winner will be given mentorship and training in Silicon Valley, USA.

Speaking on the occasion, the Minister for MoST stressed the importance of innovation and the efforts which the present government is doing for the promotion and advancement of Science and Technology. He termed Science and Technology a tool for developing countries like Pakistan to face the challenges of Globalization and specifically highlighted the role of UNIDO and its partners in arranging this international event, which will promote entrepreneurship as well as contribute to the mitigations of Pakistan’s energy shortage problem.

The UNIDO Representative to Pakistan, Esam Alqararah, addressing the ceremony, shared UNIDO’s vision on inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID), and efforts to promote sustainable energy and protect the environment. Mr. Alqararah noted that UNIDO in Pakistan is promoting the use of renewable energy and clean technologies and pin-pointed the importance of renewable energy and energy efficiency in the development of the country.  Mr. Alqararah reiterated UNIDO’s commitment to further strengthen cooperation with MoST and  stressed that UNIDO is  looking forward to contribute further, particularly in the areas of energy and environment and its related facets.

Rex Northen, the Executive Director of the Cleantech Open, addressed the audience via video message, expressing his sincere thanks to all those that have participated; entrepreneurs, partners, supporters, judges and mentors in GCIP-Pakistan this year and is looking forward to welcome the National Winner to the Cleantech Open Global Forum in Silicon Valley.

The ceremony was attended by a large number of high ranking officials and dignitaries, embassies, international donor agencies, and government institutions, including allied departments of MoST, representatives from Industries and Production, Ministry of Commerce, Climate Change Division, Chambers of Commerce and industry and private sector stakeholders. The scale and exposure of this event is indicative of the excitement and commitment in Pakistan to look for new areas of technical support at the policy, sectoral and entrepreneurial levels which can provide an enabling environment for the promotion of clean energy technologies in Pakistan.