First National Innovation Awards to be given to 12 innovators in different categories

Pakistan Innovation Foundation (PIF) has commenced Pakistan’s First National Innovation Awards to distinguish and honor Pakistan’s leading innovators. The awards will gather individuals, institutions and companies for their achievements and innovations.

Pakistan Software House Association also recognizes innovators and startups under its PASHA ICT Awards. However, for PIF this would be the first experience in showcasing such an event.

The Awards will be distributed at the Pakistan Innovation Forum 2015 – which is a regular annual conference focused on Innovation and technologies for Pakistan.

The theme of this conference for this year is MAKE IN PAKISTAN – which is focused on promoting startups, individuals and companies creating solutions and ideas remaining within Pakistan. 

There are 12 categories for this award:

1. Most Innovative University
2. Social / Development Innovation
3. Corporate/Business Innovation
4. Most Innovative Tech Startup
5. Finance/Fintech Innovation
6. Civic Innovation
7. Government Innovation
8. Health Innovation
9. Education Innovation
10. Agri and Rural Innovation
11. Industry Innovation
12. Art and Design Innovation

The Forum will also award 3 additional special prized under Young Innovative Talent, Lifetime Achievement, and Peoples’ Choice Innovator of the Year Award.

Speaking at the Launch of the National Innovation Awards ™ Mr. Saad Amanullah Khan, Chairman of Pakistan Innovation Foundation said: 

One of the three main streams of our work is about recognizing and rewarding Pakistani Innovators. We often feel there is no innovation in Pakistan and that is not correct. There are many exemplary things that happened in Pakistan from Orangi Pilot Project, to Easy Paisa, and the like and we must recognize those innovators so that the hands of others are strengthened. As Pakistan’s leading and only champion of Innovation, the National Innovation Awards is a way for PIF to do that.

Dr. Athar Osama, Founder and CEO of Pakistan Innovation Foundation, said:

We have been thinking of doing Innovation Awards to recognize and honor those who took the bold and difficult step of innovation to help advance this country forward. These are the kinds of people because of whom progress happens and they have the true heroes of Pakistan and an inspiration for us all.

National Innovation Awards ™ will recognize 68 years of Pakistani Innovative Spirit. To join the conversation about “MAKE IN PAKISTAN” the hashtag on twitter is #MakeInPK