OFFICE OF RESEARCH, INNOVATION & COMMERCIALIZATION OFFICE OF RESEARCH, INNOVATION & COMMERCIALIZATION

With the rapid technological developments around the globe, the importance of effective innovative solutions for the world problems has become more relevant. Universities are considered key players in bringing these innovative solutions and thereby exposing isolated researches to the industry through commercialization.

Universities are places of knowledge creation, knowledge capturing, and knowledge sharing. Here, ideas are openly exchanged; existing phenomenon and processes are challenged and societal intellectual standards are enhanced through the pursuit of inquiry and intrigue. Traditionally, universities were involved in teaching and isolated research where the latter has not been given its due importance.  In world’s renowned universities, both teaching and research are given equal importance and that is why they are considered as the beacon of knowledge creation. We believe that in order to catch up with the leading universities around the world, universities in Pakistan must also focus on quality research alongside teaching and the commercialization of this research in order to provide indigenous and innovative solutions to the local problems.

Moreover, due to the back to back financial crises around the world in past few decades, researchers and practitioners are now agreeing on the fact that instead of relying on large organizations where there is always a danger of “too big to fail”, countries must promote entrepreneurship among youth and support small and medium organizations if they want sustainable economic development. According to the recently published report of UNDP (2016), Pakistan is among the youngest countries where more than 60% of its population is under the age of 30. Moreover, according to the government’s figures, there is a need of 2 million jobs for the youth on yearly basis. Entrepreneurship is the answer to this problem. Through entrepreneurship, one can benefit from capturing knowledge and innovative ideas and converting it to feasible business solutions and job creation. Leading universities around the globe have validated this model where students have converted their business ideas into successful businesses (e.g. Google & Facebook etc.).

Those universities have come a long way of infrastructural developments and now the availability of resources gives them the competitive advantage. However, because of the rapid technological developments and the easy access to information to the people around the globe, developing counties like Pakistan has a huge opportunity to eliminate the traditional developmental models that those developed countries have gone through. Therefore, a need of the time is to offer support to our youth for their indigenous research and entrepreneurial ideas at the university level which will hopefully quicken our progress towards catching up with the developed world in terms of research and development, technological and economic growth.

To this backdrop, Karakorum International University, Gilgit while being situated in the remotest and comparatively underdeveloped area of Pakistan is embarking upon establishing the Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC). The purpose is to address the local problems through our indigenous research and commercialize the same to the industry for a larger impact. ORIC will also offer support to youth for their unique and innovative business ideas to be converted into startups and ultimately become a self-sustainable business.

Vision

To become a leading institute that offers high quality, unique research solutions to the local markets by leveraging technology and entrepreneurial spirit.

Mission

We are committed to promote, offer and commercialize high quality, credible, innovative and research-based solutions to the local problems by integrating technology, entrepreneurial spirit and mutual collaboration with stakeholders while maintaining higher ethical standards.

Objectives

The main objectives of ORIC are:

  1. Serve as support mechanism to promote and develop a vibrant and quality-based research culture at KIU with effective use of technology
  2. Bridging the gap between industry and academia through joint initiatives as well as addressing local societal needs
  3. Making KIU self-sustainable by reducing its reliance on governmental funds
  4. Creating and identifying entrepreneurial and job opportunities for the students of KIU

                  Number of Publications (Since 2018)

         Faculty

 

Department

 

2018 2019 2020
Faculty of Natural Sciences

 

Mathematical Science          – 8 2
Computer Sciences 4 10 3
Mining Engineering 3 3
Physics 1 7
Faculty of Social Sciences

 

Behavioral Science 5 1
Business Management 12 13 5
Economics 2 3
Education 8 2 2
I.R 7 3
Faculty of Life Sciences

 

Biological Science 16 13
Chemistry 5 19 13
Environmental Science 12 16 5
Food and Agricultural Science 7 13 1
Forestry 4 2
  Total 84 112 34

 

 

 

RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS (2019-2020)

Research Thematic Areas (Dept. wise)

1 Business Management 1.Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability2.Leadership development

3.Project Management in Gilgit Baltistan

4.Entrepreneurship: Opportunities, Challenges, Implications

5.Green Human Resource Management

2 Economics 1.Cross border trade and local economy of Gilgit-Baltistan2.Environment and Development

3.Tourism, economy and sustainable development

4.Agriculture and rural development

5.CPEC and local economy

3 Food & Agriculture 1.Food Security and Food Safety2.Food Product Development

3.Nutrition Sensitive Agriculture

4.Malnutrition(Stunting and Wasting)

4 Linguistics & Literature 1.Language contact2.Language variation and change

3.Language documentation

4.Multilingualism

5 Computer Science 1.Earth Science Informatics (Artificial Intelligence approaches to understand and manage earth Sciences)2.Artificial Intelligence approaches to understand biomedical images

3.Geoinformatics and remote sensing techniques to understand climate issues

4.ICTs issues and challenges

5.Approaches to understand and manage Social networking platforms

6 Mathematical Sciences 1.Computational Geometry, Graph theory, Digital Image Processing, Modeling, Simulation and topological characterization of cellular structures2.Fuzzy Mathematics (Generalization and extensions, soft computing)

3.Fixed point theory (Matrix space, fuzzy matric space), Fuzzy sets and logic

4.Fluid Dynamics , Computational Fluid Dynamics, Parallel Computing, Flow Instabilities, Numerical Simulations, Spherical Couette Flows

5.Numerical Solution of Differential Equations

7 Behavioral Science 1.Mental Health2.Early Childhood development and education

3.Socio-cultural development

8 Earth Sciences 1.Mineral Prospecting and Exploration2.Geohazards

3.Glaciers and glacial modeling

4.Multi-hazard risk assessment

9 Physics 1.Radiation Dosimetry2.Renewable Energy

3.Nanotechnology

4.Semiconductor devices

5.High Energy Physics

10 Environmental Sciences 1.Biodiversity, Conservation of protected areas2.Soil Ecology and Management

3.Wetland Ecology and Management

4.Climate change, disaster risk management, Geographic Information System, Remote Sensing, Land cover change studies

5.Environmental Impact Assessment, Glacier monitoring,

11 Mining Engineering 1.Surface mine design and production scheduling2.Design, Development and Deployment of Mineral Cadastre, Mine Planning and Design System

3.Stability analysis of Slopes

4.Numerical Modelling and stability Analysis of tunnels

12 Education 1.Education & morality in the context of Pakistani society2.The teaching of science through inquiry method

3.The teaching of English as a language

4.Faculty/ students experiences of e-learning during COVID-19

5.Coping with educational change during COVID-19: student and teachers’ perspective

13 Chemistry 1.Natural Product Chemistry2.Ethnobotanical and Biological Studies of Medicinal Plants

3.Discovery of Anticancer and Antiaging Agents from Natural and Synthetic Sources

4.Botanical Pesticides, Chemistry and their applications

5.Application of Chromatographic Techniques for Finger printing and separation of major principles in Medicinal Plants

6.Soil Chemistry  for Agriculture sustainability

7.Computational studies on chemical and biological action of synthetic and natural compounds

8.Synthesis of fluorescent Probes and preparation of useful nanomaterials, Ionic Liquid Green Synthesis

HEC-109
 
Research Projects – Research Funding and – Research Publications
from University Faculty – Department-wise
during  the Year 2019-20
Name of University: Karakoram International University Giggit Baltistan
Name of Faculty Teaching Departments Number of Research Publications
in HEC recognized
Research Projects [Numbers] Research Funding
[Million Rs]
Impact Factor Journals –  [JCR only] Categories
‘X’, ‘Y’ , ‘Z’
From
Industry
From
Govts.
From International sources From Local and international Sources
Category Number of Publications
Dr Assadullah Mathematical Science  HEC 01  6.742.548.00
Dr.Sadiq  UNDP 01 2.4 m
Dr.Sadiq  HEC 01 4.5 m
Dr.Aftab Computer science  AKDN 01 6 m
Dr.Aftab Computer science  HEC 05  IGNIT 01 3.5 m
Dr Aftab Computer Science  AKDN 01  5 m
Dr.Fazal wahab and Dr Sher Zaman  HEC 01  15.17m
Dr Attauallah Shah and Dr Manzoor  HEC TDF 01  22m
Dr.ifzal Ahmed Business Management  KIU 01 0.56 m
Dr.Ifzal Ahmed Business Management  GB RSP 01 0.3 m
Dr.Ifzal Ahmed Business Management  GB RSP 01 0.6 m
Dr.Ifzal Ahmed Business Management  GB RSP 01 0.4 m
Dr.Safi ur rehman Minning Eng  HEC 01 10.6 m
Dr.Safi ur rehman Minning Eng  HEC 01  11.1 m
Dr Meher Chemistry  TWAS 01 5.0 m
Dr Shamsher Chemistry  HEC 01 4.7 m
Dr Meher Chemistry  KIU 01 0.5 m
Dr.Sartaj Food Science  NBPU 01  3.94 m
Dr.Arshad food Science  HEC 01  3.567m
Dr.frookh satti Food Science  HEC 01  2.8148m
Dr.Azher Hussain Food Science  NBPU 01  3.964 m
Dr.sajad Chemistry  UNDP 01 3.67 m
Dr.Ismail Chemistry  HEC 01  6.8mn
Dr.Azher Hussain Food Science  HASHO 01  0.075m
Total:
Director Finance / Treasurer  Registrar / Director (ORICs)

In line with the model proposed by HEC Pakistan and other leading universities, ORIC Directorate will serve as an umbrella over the following centers.

  • CENTER FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (CRD)
  • CENTER FOR INNOVATION & INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS (CIIPR)
  • CENTER FOR COMMERCIALIZATION (CFC)
  • BUSINESS INCUBATION CENTER
  • ORIC CONSULTING

ORIC Consulting

ORIC Consulting will be responsible for the following objectives.

  1. Promoting research-based products of KIU to relevant industries for prospects identification
  2. Offering consulting services to local industry, public sector organizations, and NGOs
  3. Connecting industry and KIU faculty for potential collaborations and consulting services
  4. Encouraging faculty members to initiate and offer consulting services from the platform of ORIC.

 

Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC) KIU
Research Funding Agencies
S.# Donar Agency Nature of Grant Web Adress Contact
1 World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborative research grants are the main type of research grant awarded by Tropical Disease Research (TDR) http://www.who.int
2 FAO / UNDP Specific information could not be located www.fao.org
3 FAO / Intr. Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) IAEA supports foremost by training, but as well with coordinated research projects (CRP) and Technical Cooperation (TC) ProjecThe IAEA has two primary types of projects available to support Member States. The first is called Coordinated Research Projects, or CRP. The second is the Technical Cooperation Projects, or TCP
4 International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) IFAD offers grants to support research-for-development programmes. Many of these programmes have had an impact on small-scale agriculture throughout the developing world. Through its support to the global agricultural research system, IFAD has succeeded in drawing attention to the priority concerns of the rural poor. It has also furthered understanding of the difficulties they face, living in resource-poor areas and producing traditional crops and commodities under difficult rainfall conditions. http://www.ifad.org
5 GTZ The selection of research projects for funding follows the development policy rules of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the sectoral priority areas developed jointly with the key participants (GTZ, German scientific community). These priority areas are listed in regularly updated guidelines. http://www.gtz.de
6 Agribusiness Support Fund of Asian Development Bank The goal of the Project is to support economic growth and employment generation through agribusiness development. The Project purpose is to develop a competitive and sustainable agribusiness sector. http://www.adb.org
7 Islamic Development Bank Specific information could not be located www.isdb.org
8 International Food Policy Research Institute- Agricultural Science and Technology Indicators (ASTI) Sound science and technology (S&T) policies require access to up-to-date and reliable S&T investment data. As agriculture and the science that supports it become ever more international in orientation, tracking the global investments in agricultural R&D and related institutional arrangements becomes not only increasingly complex but also increasingly necessary. http://www.ifpri.org/
themes/asti.htm
9 World Wide Fund for Nature- Pakistan (WWF-P) WWF-P’s Small Grants Programme (SGP) was established to encourage nature conservation initiatives in Pakistan. Those eligible to apply for funding are individuals and organisations, including NGOs, CBOs, research institutes and the government. http://www.wwfpak.org
10 The International Development Research Center (Canada) DRC funds research activities that are designed to directly benefit developing countries and their citizens. http://www.idrc.ca
11 J.E. Fogarty International Center (USA) Collaborative research and capacity building projects relevant to low- and middle- income nations. http://www.fic.nih.gov/programs/index.htm
12 International Foundation for Science (IFS) Sweden To build the scientific capacity of developing countries www.ifs.se
13 British Council (UK) INSPIRE: International Strategic Partnerships in Research and Education www.britishcouncil.co.uk
14 British Council (UK) SISTER: Support For International Science, Technology and Engineering Research www.britishcouncil.co.uk
15 U.S Agency for International Development (USA) To build the scientific capacity of developing countries Promoting education and sustainability http://www.usaid.gov/
16 Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) For the TCP project to be efficient in resource utilization and effective in attaining its objectives, multiple schemes are being utilized to implement the TCP project. The inputs could be the mix of all three or any components http://www.jica.go.jp/pakistan/english/activities/activity03.htm
17 Rockefeller foundation (USA) A nonprofit loan fund has lent more than $150 million to small and growing businesses in developing countries over the past 10 years. A fund that lends to low-income housing developers has helped preserve more than 2,700 units of affordable New York City housing since 2006. A new private equity fund will invest millions of dollars in businesses that serve low-income populations in Africa and Asia. With the help of program related investments (PRIs) from the Rockefeller Foundation, these and other organizations are able not only to have a social impact but to provide financial returns to their investors as well. http://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/what-we-do
18 UNDP Capacity Development, Environment and Energy, Women Empowerment http://www.undp.org
19 United Nations Foundation Conservation of Life, Reduction of Carbon emission,Sustainable development, Climate and energy, Women Health http://www.unfoundation.org/
20 USEFP Promoting mutual understanding between the people of Pakistan and US through education and cultural exchange http://www.usefpakistan.org
21 DAAD (Germany) Co-operation with Universities in developing countries In developing countries, the DAAD supports the founding of universities and the training of executive personnel. We offer versatile funding programmes for partner universities. http://www.daad.de/en/index.html
22 NDF (Nordic Development Funds) Finland Eligible areas for NDF grant financing include climate change mitigation and adaptation activities. NDF grants are provided mainly for technical assistance, i.e. consulting services, and for investments, i.e. goods, works, services, and for other applicable expenses in connection with technical assistance. NDF only finances projects in low-income countries. As NDF is a co-financing institution NDF grants normally constitute a part of the whole project or programme financing. The NDF-financed component of the co-financed project or programme should be in line with NDF.s mandate and eligibility criteria. http://www.ndf.fi
23 European Union The Commission makes direct financial contributions in the form of grants in support of projects in various areas. http://europa.eu/policies-activities/funding-grants/index_en.htm
24 Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP Whether you are a potential applicant, existing award holder, alumnus, or simply have an interest in international mobility, education, development or the Commonwealth. http://www.csfp-online.org/
25 TWAS (Italy) TWAS represents the best of science in developing countries. Its main mission is to promote scientific excellence and capacity in the South for science-based sustainable development. http://www.twas.org/
26 Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSDW Reflecting the need to transfer scientific results sand technological development to the grassroots communities where they are needed most, social scientists will be eligible for full membership of OWSDW (previously they were only allowed to be non-voting associate members). In addition, women scientists from the developed world who have a track record of working for the developing world will now be allowed to join OWSDW as associate members http://twows.ictp.it/news-items/twows-becomes-owsdw/
27 Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) Research Support Programme, Institutional Support Programme, Grants For Publication Of Journals, Grants For Awards And Fellowships, Grants to Science Conferences, Seminars & Workshops, PAK-US Natural Sciences Linkage Programme (NSLP), R&D Industry Programme amjadaliabro2007@yahoo.com (051-9206724)(051-9215067-68)(Ext. 113)
28 Pakistan Academy of Sciences (PAS) Travel Grant, Research Grant, Financial Support for Conferences sec.gen@paspk.org (92-51) 920 4843
29 National ICT R&D Fund Research and development projects proposed by industry and academia helpdesk@ictrdf.org.pk 051 921 5360-64
30 Pakistan Health Research Council (PHRC) Research Grants on the projects related to human health and disease ps.phrc@gmail ​0​51-9206092
31 COMSTECH-ISESCO Research Grants comstech@comstech.org 051 9220681-3
32 TWAS-COMSTECH Research Grants www.twas.ictp.it/prog/grants/ , info@twas.org 051 9220681-3
33 Human Frontier Science Program Research Grants www.hfsp.org (+33 3 88 21 51 26)
34 International Foundation for Science Grants for Individual Research , Collaborative Research & Contributing Innovation www.ifs.se (+46 8 545 818 00)
35 Research & Advocacy Fund Grants for research and effective advocacy practice in the area of maternal and newborn health in Pakistan www.rafpakistan.org (+44 (0)1224 437974)
36 EU Funding and Grants Research and innovation funding, Development and cooperation funding, Education, culture, citizenship, youth and volunteering funding, Joint research initiatives https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders_en (+32 2 299 96 96 / +32 2 584 11 11)
37 Academy of Finland Research funding on cutting-edge and innovative research aiming at significant scientific  breakthroughs http://www.aka.fi/en/funding/
firstname.lastname@aka.fi
(+358 295 335 000)
38 European Research Council (ERC) ERC Starting Grant, ERC Consolidator Grant, ERC Advanced Grant https://erc.europa.eu/funding-and-grants (+32 2 29 911111)
39 Pakistan Agricultural Research Council Agriculture Research webmaster@parc.gov.pk 051-90762000
40 Pakistan Council for Science and Technology Research Productivity Allowance pcst@comsats.net.pk (+92 (51) 9204860)
41 NAGAO Funds for Environment Research Program, Publication Program http://www.nagaofoundation.or.jp/e/research/index.html (+81-3-6659-2070)
42 British Council Researcher Links Travel Grants, Workshops https://www.britishcouncil.org/education/science/researcher-links (+44 (0)161 957 7755)
43 UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific Research Publication http://www.unescap.org/publications (66-2) 288-1234
44 EAST WEST CENTER Research Program, Education Program, Seminars Program, Development Program EWCcontact@eastwestcenter.org (808)944-7111)
45 Talented Researcher Exchange Program (TRXP) Joint Research Grants 0800-22000
46 International Strategic Partnerships In Research & Education (INSPIRE) INSPIRE Award, INSPIRE Internship, INSPIRE Fellowship, INSPIRE Faculty Scheme 0120-4676260
47 Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Research fellowships & research awards www.avh.de/en/index.htm (+49 (0)228-833-0)
48 Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) Research Awards http://aid.dfat.gov.au  (+61 2 6261 1111)
49 International Development Research Center Funding to developing-country researchers through grants, fellowships, and awards.  (+20) 23336-7051/52/53
50 Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Research Publication Grants 4th Floor, Serena Office Complex, Plot No. 17, Ramna 5, Khayaban-e-Suhrawardy, G-5/1, Islamabad (P.O.Box 1772, Islamabad, Pakistan) (92-51) 9244500~7
51 Sigma Xi – The Scientific Research Society Research Grants www.sigmaxi.org 800-243-6534 or 919-549-4691
52 The Asia Foundation Research & publications pakistan.general@asiafoundation.org (+92 (51) 235-6007-10)
53 UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific Research grants, Publication Grants, Trainings and Research http://www.unescap.org/research  (66-2) 288-1234
54 NESTA Funding Grants for Qualitative academic research, Journalistic research, Innovation http://www.nesta.org.uk/bright-ideas-research-fund 020 7438 2500
55 Global Research Council Research Grants http://twas.org/global-research-council (+49 228 885 2388)
56 Global Innovation Fund Innovation Grants http://www.globalinnovation.fund/apply-to-gif
57 Higher Education Commission The Research Grants Program provides financial support for research in all disciplines of basic and applied sciences, engineering and technology, social sciences and humanities. www.hec.gov.pk
58 ALP (Agricultural Linkage Programme) The Government of Pakistan and Government of the United States of America recalling the close ties in scientific and technological cooperation which have developed over several decades have gone into an agreement to create an Agricultural Linkages Program (ALP) to reap the mutual benefits of agricultural research through joint research projects and exchange of scientists. www.parc.gov.pk
59 Ministry of Science & Technology Pakistan-US Science and Technology
Cooperative Program
http://www.most.gov.pk/
60 National Commission on Biotechnology / MoST Workshop, Travel Grant, Training Course http://www.ncb.gov.pk
61 SMEDA Introduction of SME specific research projects supporting R&D and University-Industry liaison programs by Ministry of Science & Technology (MoST), Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), Ministry of Information Technology (MoIT) and others http://www.smeda.org.pk

Office of Research, innovation and Commercialization (ORIC) KIU has successfully completed two research studies for Gilgit Baltistan Disaster Management Authority (GBDMA).The studies titled “Hazards vulnerability and Risk management in 7 valleys” and “GIS Mapping of 07 targeted valleys” Mr.Zaheer Uddin Babar duty Director (GBDMA) appreciated the effort of ORIC-KIU Director Dr.Ifzal Ahmad thanked on behalf of KIU.
Vice chancellor KIU, Prof Dr.Attaullah Shah commented the efforts of ORIC and all faculty members involved in the studies and assured ORIC of his full support.

Dr. Ifzal Ahmed

Dr. Ifzal Ahmed

Designation: Associate Professor (Director ORIC)

Phone:

Email:

Behram Khan

Mr. Behram Khan

Designation: Assistant Director

Phone: 05811 960010 Ext. 289

Email: behram.khan@kiu.edu.pk

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