'WB to fund research projects for socio-economic development'

World Bank representative Dr Graham Harrison has said that World Bank would fund those research projects that would bring socio-economic development in the country and achieve sustainable development goals.

He was addressing a workshop on "Road show on New R&D Framework of HEC" organized by Higher Education Commission of Pakistan and Punjab University Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC) at here on Saturday. PU Dean Faculty of Engineering and Technology Prof Dr Taqi Zahid Butt, HEC Research and Development Director General Dr Zain ul Abidin, PU ORIC Director Prof Dr Arshad Javed, British Council representative Hajira Khan, directors of ORIC from a large number of universities from Punjab participated in the workshop.

Addressing the workshop through video link, Dr Graham Harrison said that Pakistani researchers should work on the academic ideas that could be commercialized. He said that research projects should resolve the problems being faced today. He said that World Bank encouraged technology transfer and promotion of innovation and entrepreneurship culture. He said that World Bank had allocated $700,000 for those research projects that would focus on resolving local issues.

Prof Dr Taqi Zahid Butt lauded the role of Higher Education Commission for promotion of research in universities. He said that academia was strengthening relations with industrial and corporate sectors with the help of HEC. He said that universities had important role in socio-economic development of the country.

Director General HEC Research and Development Dr Zain ul Abidin said that World Bank would give $400 million to HEC in the next five years out of which research grant would be $127 million. He gave a detailed presentation on various programmes of HEC to fund research projects. Hajira Khan gave briefing on Pak UK Education Gateway. Dr Arshad Javed said that the workshop would create awareness among researchers regarding available research grants for research projects. Later, a comprehensive question answer session was held in which speakers addressed various questions of participants.