COMSATS and UNIDO sign Memorandum on Cooperation

Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS) and United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) inked an agreement on cooperation at Vienna, Austria on 25th day of April 2001. The collaboration encompasses promotion and development of Industry related scientific applications and technology transfer in common member countries. Dr. Hameed Ahmed Khan, H.I., S.I., the Executive Director of COMSATS and Mr. Carlo Magarinos, Director General, UNIDO signed the agreement during the visit of COMSATS Delegation to UNIDO Headquarters in Vienna, Austria.

The signed MOU covers assessment and transfers of environmentally sound and clean technologies for production cycles as well as end-of-pipe treatment of pollutants/ wastes, trainings and assistance in technology assessment & screening, methodologies for investment and technology transfer, ISO 14000, collaboration among COMSATS Centres of Excellence and UNIDO Technology Centers in the fields of manufacturing technology, solar energy, hydro-power material Assessment and application, pure and applied chemistry, marine sciences, environment and technology management within the frameworks of their respective programmes, promotion transfer and applications of renewable energy to support the energy efficiency in the industry, Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) capacity building and training etc. It has been agreed to materialize cooperation efforts through organization of joint awareness raising/workshops, seminars, demonstration projects, on-the-job training, study tours etc. The two international organizations have also agreed to coordinate in upgrading agro-industries and related technical skills in the member countries by providing technical assistance and appropriate technologies for industrial and processing of fresh food into more durable and value-added products of export standard.

Under this MOU, a project on establishment of an Industrial Information Network and Database for SME Development in Pakistan is already underway. COMSATS is acting as Information and Communication Technology Partner of the project, which aims to provide information, value-added support and related services to SMEs. COMSATS contribution to the project would be in terms of ICT related expertise and support to implement web based information network and to ensure smooth running of operations. It includes analysis of hardware and software needs for the network, assistance in formulating technical and business plan, consultancy for hardware procurement, software development, web applications development and deployment, networking solutions, e-commerce solutions development and consultancy (B2B, B2C), web hosting, Internet connectivity, establishment of appropriate connections for the network and provision of necessary training.

The agreement with UNIDO corresponds to the basic and main objective of COMSATS seeking cooperation and working linkages with international/counterpart organizations to integrate the development efforts for accomplishing socio-economic development of the third world. The other working partners of COMSATS include OIC Standing Committee on Science and Technology Cooperation (COMSTECH), Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), Third World Network of Scientific Organizations (TWNSO), International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada, Islamic Academy of Sciences (IAS), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), UNESCO etc.