Dr. Wasiullah Malik
Director, ORIC
Idea of Office of Research, Innovation & Commercialization (ORIC) has been nurtured in the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Islamabad, to utilize the knowledge and expertise of the academia for outcome-based education and financial uplift of universities. In developed countries the business communities and industries communicate their demand & problems to the experts/researchers for possible solutions along with funding to them. All the universities in Pakistan have established ORIC and started working according to their mandate.
The mission of KUST is to provide “Top Class Education in a Vibrant Environment Driven by Research and Innovation”. The Kohat University of Science & Technology (KUST), Kohat has the pride to adjudicate the importance, vision and mission of the Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC). In fact, ORIC provides an aid in uplifting the standards of education and research at Kohat University of Science and Technology (KUST) and establishing linkages with industries for possibility of converting research projects into products which may lead to its commercialization. Establishing industrial linkages of the University can also play a vital role in boosting the economy of country.
ORIC at KUST is striving to develop, enhance and administer research, and to link it with the educational, social and economic priorities of the university and the public at large. ORIC at KUST is emphasizing on promoting research culture, motivation of faculty and students for submission of research projects that could result in boosting status of the university. Research and innovation plays a very important role in the country’s economic growth, as these are the means to achieve the goals of the modernism and technological expansion. We believe KUST will contribute its share towards the economic development of our country. ORIC at KUST also ensures and guarantee that all research activities are in line with the policies of KUST and are according to the guidelines of higher Education Commission (HEC) where academic freedom, professional integrity and ethical conducts are not compromised.
The ORIC at KUST will continue its struggle to achieve its objectives and goals with the help of its committed team.
Dr. Jawad Ashraf
Manager, Industrial Linkage
The foundation of the economy is academics and manufacturing connection. The businesses of each developed country overcome their economic issues by means of their financial assets i.e. Academics.
Half of the population was unemployed in 2018, and about half a million graduates in Pakistan were unemployed (Source: Daily Times Pakistan), which can be solved through strong academic and industrial connections.
These are the programs of great interest to us:
Develop, expand, enhance and administer research programs at university
Directly link research activities to the education, social, and industry sectors.
Foster and enhance multidisciplinary research initiatives
Increasing external research funding
Diversifying the external funding for research
Translating research to the benefit of the public Internships
Technology Transfer
On the one hand the industry faces a lack of good human resources and inventions and, on the other hand, well-trained PhDs and students do not gain any recognition for their noble work. This dilemma cannot be denied. They face a threat of their creations being stolen when they are discovered. ORIC can ensure that both issues are overcome by focusing on following:
Promoting entrepreneurship, technology-transfer and commercialization activities which improve and support the economy
Complete mentoring on how to get the research commercialized
Faculty, business and industry mobilization
Easy access to government authorities and industries
Coaching, mentoring and training sessions
Intellectual Property and Legal services
