Speakers at a training workshop have underscored the need to make and strengthen science and technology parks.

They were speaking on the concluding day of the two-day international training workshop on “Managing Science and Technology Parks” at COMSTECH. Experts deliberated on the importance of strengthening science and technology parks for building knowledge economy.

The event was organised by COMSTECH in collaboration with the Pardis Technology Park, Iran and ICCBS Technology Park and Technology Incubation Center, Pakistan.

Director General of International Affairs and Public Relations of Pardis Technology Park Amin Reza Khaleghian spoke at the inaugural session and stressed the need for the optimum management of science and technology parks in the OIC member states.

He also spoke about the programmes and activities of the Pardis Technology Park.

Prof Dr. M Iqbal Choudhary, the Coordinator General of COMSTECH, said science and technology parks were part and parcel of the knowledge economy ecosystem. The STPs played a key role in fostering linkages between the academic institutions and industries, he said.

He said such facilities were time-tested institutions since 1951 and contributed to the economic development of the USA, the UK, China, France, Germany and other countries. He said the OIC countries were realizing the importance of STPs and these included Turkey, Iran, Malaysia, Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Pakistan besides some Central Asian member states.

Prof Choudhary said a majority of the OIC member states, especially in Africa, were still lagging behind in this process of harnessing the innovative potential of their youth through such initiatives.

The NUST Pro-Rector for Research, Innovation and Commercialization highlighted the importance of the STPs and their role in the socioeconomic development of the countries.

COMSTECH and its partner institutions had launched major initiatives to help strengthen the STPs including the establishment of Inter-Islamic Network on Science and Technology Parks in Iran.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk