LAHORE: (Tuesday, February 27, 2024): Eminent experts at 9th Invention to Innovation Summit have stressed collaboration among the government, industry and academia to not only drive the country out of the crisis but make Pakistan a developed country. They were addressing the inaugural session of the summit organized by Punjab University Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization after a gap of five years. Chairman Punjab Higher Education Commission Prof Dr Shahid Munir, Pakistan Science Foundation Chairman Muhammad Akram Sheikh, Chief Advisor University of Management and Technology Abid K Sherwani, Director ORIC Prof Dr Shakil Ahmed, researchers, experts from industries, faculty members and a large number of students were present. Addressing the ceremony, Prof Dr Shahid Munir said that nations making innovations are ruling the world, for which the role of educational institutions is important. In his address, Dr Shahid Munir said that many developed countries of the world were behind Pakistan in the 1960s. He said that Pakistan is currently ranked 88th among 190 countries in innovation. He said that not spending on education and research is the main reason for Pakistan’s lagging behind. He said that Pakistan spends 0.24% on research and development. He said that the work of educational institutions is to provide innovation according to the needs of industries. He said that the companies created by MIT graduates make up the world’s 11th biggest economy. He said that the universities play an important role to move Pakistan forward. He said that we have to promote the tendency of entrepreneurship among our students. He said that applied research is important for the development of the economy. He said that the PHEC is also preparing intellectual property and research commercialization policy framework. Dr Khalid Mahmood said that no country can develop without mutual cooperation of academia, industry and public sector. He said that industry and government representatives have also been invited to this summit. He said that various departments of Punjab University are working closely with the industry. He said that an office of Lahore Chamber of Commerce has been opened in Hailey College of Commerce. He said that the summit series which was stopped has been restarted after five years, for which the efforts of Director ORIC Dr Shakil and his team are commendable. Dr Akram Sheikh said PUVC Prof Dr Khalid Mahmood deserves congratulations for organizing the summit after a long break. He said that students are presenting their ideas in 56 stalls and 79 posters in the summit. He said that this summit is the best platform to express creativity. He said that there is a lack of practical training in educational institutions. He said that there is a need to foster creative thinking in educational institutions instead of rote learning system. Abid KSherwani said that the aim of the summit is to spread the research done in the research institutes to the whole world. He said that Pakistan has 53 trillion dollars’ worth of natural resources and 66% youth. He said that the country can develop with proper utilization of human and natural resources. He said that we are not giving school to two and a half million children and this is a great threat to the development of Pakistan. He said that despite being an agricultural country, Pakistan imports vegetables and pulses, which is very unfortunate. Prof Dr Shakil Ahmed said that the purpose of ORIC is to take steps to promote research culture in universities. He said that different scientists, experts and students will be able to benefit from the exhibition of various products and models, and poster presentations in the summit. Later, the participants visited and appreciated the stalls of products based on new research conducted in various fields by various industries and academic institutions of Pakistan.