Pakistani scholar among world’s top young innovators

By
Hussain
-
103
467

Associate Professor, School of Science and Engineering, Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) Dr Umar Saif has been recognized by MIT Technology Review as one of the top 35 innovators (TR35) in the world.
He is the first Pakistani scholar to have been selected for the prestigious TR35 award in the last decade, says a press release.
“The TR35 recognizes the world’s top 35 young innovators that are radically transforming technology as we know it. Their work – spanning medicine, computing, communications, energy, electronics and nanotechnology — is changing our world”, according to MIT Technology Review.
Dr Saif has been honoured for his work on technologies for the developing-world. Technologies developed by Dr Saif’s research group and startups are used by millions of people in the developing world, especially BitMate, that enhances the speed of Internet in the developing-world using peer-to-peer technology, and SMSall.pk, Pakistan’s largest SMS Social Network which has sent close to four billion SMS for users in Pakistan.
Dr Saif joins an elite group of researchers and entrepreneurs selected over the last decade. Previous winners include Larry Page and Sergey Brin, the co-founders of Google, Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, Jonathan Ive, the chief designer at Apple, David Karp, founder of Tumbler; Harvard Professor Alán Aspuru-Guzik for his work on Quantum computers, and MIT Neuroscientist Ed Boyden, one of the inventors of the emerging field of optogenetics, which makes it possible to control neurons with light.
MIT Technology Review selects the top innovators after a rigorous evaluation process. The judges, who are leading experts in their fields from universities such as MIT, Stanford and Harvard, consider hundreds of high-impact researchers and entrepreneurs from all over the world, out of which top 35 are chosen for the award.
“This year’s group of TR35 recipients is driving the next wave of transformative technology and making an impact on the way we live, work and interact”, said Jason Pontin, editor-in-chief and publisher of the MIT Technology Review.
Dr Saif has won numerous awards for his innovative technology solutions for the developing-world. He was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2009. He is a recipient of the MIT Technovator Award, Mark Weiser Award, Digital Inclusion Award from Microsoft Research and the IDG Technology Pioneer Award.
Before moving to Pakistan, Dr Saif worked at MIT and received a PhD from the University of Cambridge. He is a Fellow of the Cambridge Commonwealth Trust.

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103 COMMENTS

  2. Congratulations Dr. Sahab. Allah aap ko aur kamyabian ata karai aur aap Pakistan ka naam aisay hee roshan kartai rahain, ameen.

  3. Excellent. It is so refreshing to see success like this for one of our own. We should all be extremely proud.

    • What do you mean "one o four own", that was racist.

      Why cant be just act like human beings and not judge people based on where they were born, race etc. Jesus!

  4. Mashallah..

    Please work on developing more individuals like yourself, besides doing what you already do 🙂
    May ALLAH bless you and keep you on the right path. Aameen.

    ALLAH Hafiz

  10. MashaAllah amazing piece of work ! Hard work with dedication will pay off !! I really admire you hard work , you're truly a source of inspiration and motivation for all the Muslim youth,
    Congratulations from Hyderabad,India

  12. Mashallah !!!!! Nice to hear such a prestigious award being awarded to our Pakistani Fellow..

  21. Dear Dr.sahib congradulations and mashallah, we all are proud of you. I know the govt of Pakistan will not support him but what will he get in Pakistan? But yes he can work hard to train the students in Pak.

  25. that's cool… You have made us proud. We wish you good luck for your and pak future.
    Most importantly; we wish that you will help our nation to produce more such brains so that every year we have people like you winning top awards.

  29. Thanks god someone in Pakistan also making his name in education ! other wise we indians are the only one in subcontinent aho r contributing ! We have 18 youngsters(6 girls) in this list till date. We welcome pakistani youngsters in this list ! Books are more lethal weapon then Guns !!!! Try it !!!!

  32. Amidst all the news about the violence, corruption, and other problems…seeing such a news seems like a breath of fresh air. Congratulations Dr. Saif!

  34. Bravo Sir !!!
    Congratulations Doctor Sahab, You Deserve A Round of Applause …. God bless you 🙂

  42. I salute all those in the world who make a difference, smartly, accurately and successfully. I salute you again for making a Pakistani difference! Keep up the good work. m/

  45. I love to say you are PAKISTANI i wish Pakistan will produce more like you in coming years, i want you to do something for pakistan study structure plz do it ………..

  47. Although I am not student of LUMS, I did BS from PUCIT, Excellent work. Proud to be a Pakistani. It will be great if Pakistan produce such a brilliant more Drs.

    Any How Thanks to Dr sb for his effort to make the Pakistan better in the eye of world.h

  52. Congrats dr sahib,i hope the ppl of pakistan realize what you have acheived and hope you give more to Pakistan than b4

  61. Alhamdolillah! finally we hear something extremely good about a Pakistani. Wonderful. Keep up the good work and a big thank you for bringing laurels to your country. May Allah Subhantaala shower moire of His blessings on you. Ameen

  63. mashALLAH…….Dr. Saif u r certainly da role model Pakisatan requires……..may ALLAH (S.W.T) give u long life to help Pakistan……..u ave certainly made us all PROUD……..bohot bohot dua aapke liye…..Ameen

  67. Could some one also tell us what good has he done and have the people benefitted in Pakistan or is this a personal achievement only.The news item says a lot.Some one to please translate in simple language for us all.

  68. God Bless You Dr Sahib. We at least hear some very good news in this tense atmosphere on law and order. Keep it up. Sons and daughters like this person keeps our hopes alive.

  69. Congratulations Professor…God bless you and hope you will play your role to bring Pakistan out of troubles.

  71. Congratulations Sir, May God bless you and may the youth of this Nation follow your foot steps.

  76. Congratulations Saif Saheb, we are proud of you. Allah bless you, healthy, wealthy and long life. Aameen.

  77. You made us proud. You are a role model for all of us to work toawrds such an achievment. Keep it up.

  81. Thanks for your hardwork and dedication which you shows to all over the world. And help us to feel proud on you as a Pakistani. It gives very nice feeling after hearing something good about our country. Good on you.

  82. Salaam,
    how r u sir, i have been looking for your Work and Special naming from USA as Pakistani Since 2003. Its was GLOBAL SCIENCE where i read your 1st interview when you was in Lahore from MIT. i am happy for your success and really happy that being an educationist you are our proud part.
    May ALLAH keep your safe n healthy to serve our Nation.

    Thanks you!

  83. Salam n congrats 2 Dr. Saif, all Pakistanis ant entire Muslim Ummah on this victorious event and i pray that ALLAH bless each individual of Muslim Ummah with vision 2 devote their capabilities in the betterment of mankind.

  86. Absolutely wonderful Dr.Saif! I hope you'll spend a %age of your potential to develop more brains like you, so this beacon of light keeps glowing. Congratulations for making whole nation proud of you & your parents!

  95. Congratulations for the great job to Dr. Umar, LUMS and Pakistan. Once again proved that Pakistanis are second to none and had there been adequate research facilities available to all our masses, all 35 would have been Pakistanis.

  96. Thanks for sharing! always good to learn about positive Pakistan and it is very important to show this face of my country

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