The inaugural ceremony of the Commercialization and Innovation Cell of Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources was held on December 6, 2012 at PCRWR Headquarters Islamabad.
Speaking to the media persons, Mir Changez Khan Jamali, federal Minister for Science and Technology said that developed countries based their socio-economic development on the foundations of science and technology and its commercialization. Commercialization in fact bridges the public sector to the corporate world and hence both complement each other in research and development.
In Pakistan, commercialization of scientific developments and innovations has always been a difficult task due to financial constraints confronted by the public sector. However, the present Government has laid down the foundation stone for making public sector R&D institutions self-sustainable through its recently launched Science, Technology and Innovation Policy.
It is a belated but a step in the right direction which would serve the long lasting purpose of reducing financial burdens of the government. PCRWR is extending commendable services in the research and development of water resources.
In accordance with the directions of the Ministry of Science and Technology, PCRWR has taken up the task to practically commercialize its products and technologies, for this purpose, it is also extending cooperation to other national and international institutions and agencies.
He further said “I hope that it would serve its intended purposes effectively and would be a foundation stone for realization of long-term commercialization policy as envisaged by the Government of Pakistan and would provide economic sustainability to the institution”.
Akhlaq Ahmad Tarrar Federal Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology in his remarks highly appreciated the efforts of Chairman PCRWR and his team and said “the Commercialization and Innovation Cell of PCRWR would provide basic research facilities, infrastructure and technical guidelines for the indigenous development of products and technologies envisaged for the water quality and quantity management.
It would inshallah be proved successful in providing intended services as per international norms and standards in collaboration with international institutions, industry, corporate and consumer water market”.
Earlier Dr. Muhammad Aslam Tahir, Chairman PCRWR briefed the media about the commercialization and innovation strategy of PCRWR, products and services launched under this strategy and stated that in the next step, a number of sale points would be established throughout the country to provide cost-effective products and services to the common masses.