COMSATS, CAS and ISESCO organized Meeting on Basic Research and Industrial Applications, July 6-8, 2004, Islamabad, Pakistan

The Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS) in collaboration with the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) organized a three day meeting on the subject of “Basic Research and Industrial Applications” from 6-8 July, 2004 at Best Western Hotel, Islamabad.

The objective of the Meeting was to highlight the integral link between basic research and related industrial uses. It aimed at ascertaining the importance of basic research as one of the pre-requisites for innovation, which is essential for companies and nations, to remain competitive in the global village of today. The meeting focused on ascertaining the true role of universities, R&D institutes and industry-members in keeping up pace with global development and identified the essential linkages between basic research and industrial applications for achieving sustainable growth.

The inaugural session of the meeting, which was held on the 6th of July, 2004 was chaired by Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, Dr. M. Akram Sheikh. Dr. Sheikh invited the scientist and technologist community of Pakistan to take active part in developing the national science policy. Addressing the august gathering, he pledged that the present government policies are directed towards harnessing the science culture in Pakistan. He stressed upon the need to place trust in Pakistan’s own scientific talent to promote science and technology in the country. Dr. Sheikh also informed the gathering that the government has earmarked 9 billion rupees for higher education for the current fiscal year.

Delivering his welcome speech, the Executive Director - COMSATS, Dr. Hameed Ahmed Khan, underscored the need for basic research in the field of science and technology for sustained growth. Dr. Khan, advocating the importance of basic research said that over the years basic research has changed the outlook of the world and possesses revolutionary powers to change the fate of developing nations. He suggested taking basic research hand in hand with applied research and developing strong linkages between academic, R&D institutions and industry, in order to achieve developmental goals. The distinguished guest from China, Prof. Sixiong Zhao, Executive Director, International Centre for Climate and Environment Sciences (ICCES) also spoke on the occasion.

A large gathering of scientists, technologists, scholars, policy makers and people from all walks of life attended the conference. Some thirty four (34) technical presentations were made by subject experts in seven (7) technical sessions. Expert speakers from China, Switzerland and United Kingdom deliberated during the meeting, besides other national specialists. The key recommendations which evolved through the three days of deliberations focused on developing strategies wherein basic as well as applied research could both be done in parallel; allocating appropriate funds for basic research and to transfer technology on the basis of transfer of science.

Chairing the concluding session of the event, Dr. Samar Mubarakmand, Chairman, National Engineering and Scientific Commission (NESCOM) said that it is imperative for the industry, especially in the developing countries like Pakistan, to have strong linkages with research institutions, so that the industrial production can be optimized in quality and also the cost of production can be lowered, while securing clean environmental conditions. Earlier, speaking on the occasion, the Executive Director COMSATS, Dr. Hameed Ahmed Khan presented an overview of the event’s proceedings and appreciated the efforts put in by the learned speakers. Other speakers that addressed the august gathering included, Prof. Riazuddin, Director, National Centre for Physics, (NCP), Dr. A. Ghaffar, Director General, PINSTECH and the distinguished guest from China, Prof. Dr. Sixiong Zhao, the Executive Director of ICCES, China. They all highlighted and accentuated the role of basic research for continued development.

Summary and Recommendations of the Meeting by Dr. Hameed Ahmed Khan

Presentations (contact Ms. Zainab Hussain Siddiqui) zainabhs@comsats.net.pk