NUST establishes country's first 'Patent Wall'

National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) has established the country's first patent wall. Rector NUST, Lieutenant General Naweed Zaman (retd), inaugurated the wall on Friday at NUST Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, says a press release issued here. Patent walls are established in universities all over the world to recognize significant contributions of university inventors thus highlighting their technological achievements and motivating the budding scientists and entrepreneurs to tread the path of invention-led careers.
The NUST has 114 local and foreign patents with 33 as approved. The university is encouraging its researchers to adopt the culture of 'Patenting before Publication' to enhance the university as well as country's innovation index.
The HEC has also incentivized patent filing and provides the required financial and technological support to the universities. The HEC in collaboration with IP Organization (IPO) Pakistan has recently approved establishing Technology and Innovation Support Centres (TISC) at 34 universities across Pakistan to facilitate researchers and inventors in their invention pursuits.
TISC, a program initiated by World IP Organization (WIPO), provides innovators in developing countries with access to locally based, high quality technology information and related services, helping them exploit their innovative potential and create, protect, and manage their intellectual property (IP) rights.
Speaking on the occasion, the rector NUST highlighted the importance of innovation in pursuance of SDG Goal-9 to support domestic technology development, research and innovation in developing countries, including by ensuring a conducive policy environment for, inter-alia, industrial diversification and value-addition to commodities.
He thanked the support extended by WIPO, IPO Pakistan and HEC to promote patenting in Pakistan. He appreciated the NUST inventors and emphasized upon them to enhance their innovations and inventions. Present on the landmark event were Muhammad Irfan Tarar, DG IPO Pakistan, Saleem Ranjha, DG IP Pak Customs, Muhammad Naseer, ED IPO Pakistan, Dr Muhammad Latif, Advisor HEC, pro rectors, principals and researchers of NUST constituent colleges and schools.-PR