STAFF REPORT IBD: Pakistan is highly vulnerable to extremWith eyeing rapid national development in the present information age and globally competing knowledge-driven economies, speakers at the recently concluded COMSATS three-day regional consultative workshop stressed for having an integrated mechanism of national innovation system and intellectual property for rapid and diverse progress.
They further said that the process of research, technology and innovation needs to be recognized as a cyclic process rather than a linear process in order extend benefits of innovations to societies. There is a desperate need to develop as well as strengthen the national innovation system (NIS) in Asian region, they stressed.
The event was jointly organized by COMSATS, ISESCO, Inter-Islamic Network on Information Technology (INIT) and COMSATS CIIT.
A number of Pakistani and international executives and representatives shared their presentations on the occasion. Main purpose of the workshop was to raise understanding of the participants on NIS and IP rights and policies, as well as to share, learn and build on the best practices harnessing innovation and intellectual property regime.
The event, comprised total eight technical sessions, focused on topics related to introduction to innovation, types and classification of innovations, impact and effects of innovation on national economy; delivery mechanisms for and key agents and actors in a national innovation system; IP issues; industries, research and technologies centers; knowledge-economy; international IP laws; IPRs role in promoting a knowledge economy; and patent filing, prosecution and enforcement.
Around 70 participants and subject experts from a number of Asian countries including Bangladesh, China, Iran, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Pakistan, South Korea, Sri Lanka, as well as United States and Switzerland participated.
An deep insight into the innovation policies of developing countries was also provided during the country presentations from Nepal, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Iran and other countries.
In his address, Executive Director Higher Education Commission Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed stressed the need for developing the NIS in Asian region as it plays a driving force behind strengthen as well as integrating the research and progress in the relevant fields.
He hoped that the suggestions being made during the event would be helpful in having an effective coordination among the innovative minds from different states.
Such events have, he noted, resulted in capacity building of the beneficiary countries to the effect that foreign exchange of millions of dollars has been saved. Quoting the examples of South Korea and China, Dr. Qureshi considered it important to incorporate sound national innovation systems on the agenda of all developing countries.
Executive Director COMSATS, Dr. Imtinan Elahi Qureshi, who also presided over the closing ceremony, noted that the developing countries will have to strengthen their intellectual property organizations in order to improve the NIS delivery mechanism.
He appreciated the participation of World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Switzerland, and Pakistans Intellectual Property Organization (IPO) in the workshop.
In his remarks on the occasion, Rector CIIT and President INIT, Dr. S. M. Junaid Zaidi applauded the organizers, speakers and participants in making the event a success.
Prof. Sirimali Fernando, the CEO of Coordinating Secretariat for Science, Technology and Innovation (COSTI), Sri Lanka, expressed pleasure for having the opportunity to participate in a highly informative workshop that comprised excellent technical presentations on various aspects of the national innovation system and intellectual property.
Earlier, addressing the gathering Dr. S. M. Junaid Zaidi, welcomed the dignitaries, participants and the resource persons of the regional consultative workshop and widely appreciated their effective and meaningful participation in the event.