Higher Education Commission(HEC), Pakistan is taking steps to promote applied research in the country. Their new Technology Development Fund will finance proposals of completed interdisciplinary applied research projects for prototype development and industrial value addition.
Landing on an idea may be difficult but finding resources to turn that idea into a reality is even harder. Now HEC is providing expedient projects with much-needed resources to build their products. Their aim is “to facilitate institutions of higher learning to serve as engines for socio-economic development of Pakistan.” With this initiative, HEC wants to help the productive minds of Pakistan to impact the economy through new and emerging technologies.
HEC has set an aim to support with their fund such projects that utilize raw materials of a local region, meet the market needs, solve crucial problems but most importantly create jobs and positively impact society. The proposals shall be submitted by PhD scholars who have completed their PhD and have a ready research in the following specified areas:
- Information and Technology: e-solutions for Government, Health, Textile, and Agriculture
- Micro-electronics
- Biotechnology
- Material Sciences
- Telecommunication
- Robotics
Note: All projects need to be created in a joint academia-industry partnership.
Eligibility Criteria
Any researcher having an idea or has done initial research for product development is eligible to apply for HEC’s Technology Development grant. The candidate would then be required to submit a proposal in collaboration with prospective industry, who can take up the product for its commercialization and marketing.
Duration of Project
The project duration will not exceed 2 years.
How To Apply
Sadly the application process has not been automated. If you are interested in applying for the Fund, you can download the application form from the HEC website.
Once you have filled the application form, you must send it to HEC on the following address:
Noshaba Awais
Director R&D
Higher Education Commission
Sector H-9, Islamabad, Pakistan
All applications must be sent via the Office of Research Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC) of the university that the candidate is applying through.
Application Deadline
Applications sent till December 2016 will be entertained on a first come first served basis.
Read more here.
