AIOU sets up research office

Islamabad: The Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) has formally set up a separate office of research, innovation and commercialisation (ORIC) to maintain liaison with industrial sector to share latest research in relevant fields.
The office will work as a bridge between researchers and the end-users for the application of latest knowledge (new innovation) in a particular field, said Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Shahid Siddiqui while inaugurating the ORIC. The society should get the benefit of research findings, being carried out in the educational institutions, he added.
He noted that the Higher Education Commission has allocated a huge fund for the research work and now it is the duty of the universities to ensure its proper use and disseminate their research findings among the end users and the policy-makers for the socio-economic development of the country. The present day’s repaid socio-economic progress world-over is the result of continuous research and development of new ideas and innovations in the manufacturing sector, he added.
Dr. Shahid Siddiqui laid special focus on research-based activities, by publishing research journals and holding seminars and conferences on the relevant topics. A special incentives package has also been given for this purpose.
Professor Dr. Nowshad Khan, head of ORIC, said on the occasion that a core-group will be set up to evaluate the research findings and to pass on the credible one to relevant sector.