Punjab University holds “4th Invention to Innovation Summit 2015”

Lahore: No nation can prosper without creation of new knowledge and for that purpose more PhD teachers are needed so that education can prosper in the country, said Punjab University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran.

He was addressing the “4^th Invention to Innovation Summit 2015” of Punjab University Office of Research Innovation & Commercialization (ORIC) in collaboration with Institute of Research Promotion (IRP) and Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) at Al-Raazi Hall here on Wednesday.

Chairman Pakistan Science Foundation Dr Muhammad Ashraf, University of Management & Technology Rector Dr Hassan Sohaib Murad, Institute of Research Promotion CEO Abid Sherwani, PASTIC National Centre Director General Dr Muhammad Akram Sheikh, ORIC Director Dr Amir Ijaz, faculty members, research scholars from various universities and a large number of students participated in the summit.

In his address, Dr Mujahid Kamran said that no country in the world could prosper without creating new knowledge. He said the first verses of the Holy Quran emphasis on the importance of education and orders to study. He said 750 verses of the Holy Quran stressed on the observation of natural phenomena and to resolve mysteries of the world, which reflected the importance of knowledge in the Quran. He said the demise of the Muslim world was because of neglecting this message of the Quran.

Dr Kamran said that throughout the world 5.9 per cent of the GDP was spent on education, while 2 per cent was being used for the creation of new knowledge. On the other hand, in Pakistan education was given only 2 per cent and 0.1 per cent was spent on research.

On the occasion, Dr Muhammad Ashraf said more was needed to promote science in the country. He said despite grants no good research work was being done in universities across Pakistan. He said further research, based on available research work of scholars, should be promoted.

Dr Ashraf said the PSF was initiating several programs in the near future for the promotion of science in the country. He lauded the efforts of the organizers and congratulated Dr Mujahid Kamran for successful commencement of the event.

Dr Hasan Sohaib Murad said that the conference would help bridge the gap between academia and industry. He said the Punjab University, being one of the largest university of the country, held a unique place in terms of research and scholarly work. He said the summit provided a unique opportunity for the youth of the country. Dr Murad said many great ideas of research scholars were wasted due to lack of opportunities. He said scholars should be help to publish their ideas; it would not only help them but also help the country prosper.

Abid Sherwani said the summit exhibited 500 indigenous technologies. He said more than 30 universities and 40 industries and private sector organizations from all over Pakistan were participating in the summit. ORIC Director Dr Aamir Ajaz thanked the participants and said the summit was showcasing inventions and innovations by Pakistani scientists.

Later, PSF Chairman Dr Muhammad Ashraf inaugurated exhibitions by research scholars of different universities at the Main Corridor of the university and visited various stalls alongwith PU VC Dr Mujahid Kamran.