The Institute of Business Management (IoBM) and the University of Karachi (UoK) signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance the research, innovation, commercialization, and incubation support among the academia. The UoK Vice Chancellor, Professor Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi, and the Acting Rector IoBM, Professor Dr Tariq Rahim Soomro, inked the MoU at the VC Secretariat on Wednesday, October 31, 2023.
Both universities will collaborate for joint research projects and knowledge exchange, arrange capacity-building activities for researchers, faculty members, and students, and hold product development and mentorship activities. The MoU aims to assist startups on an idea/prototype basis and at the pilot stage, engage researchers and faculty in joint seminars, conferences, and workshops, hold guest speaker and training sessions, provide student entrepreneurship support, and arrange knowledge exchange for learning and sharing best practices on innovation and startup ecosystem development.
The collaboration between IoBM and the University of Karachi through the ERIC and incubation support, the targeted SDGs include:
• SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure): This goal promotes fostering innovation, building resilient infrastructure, and supporting sustainable industrialization. The collaboration through the MoU to enhance research, commercialization, and incubation aligns directly with this SDG by encouraging joint research projects, capacity-building activities, and support for startups, which are essential to innovation and economic development.
• SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): This goal emphasizes the importance of cross-institutional collaboration to achieve sustainable development. The MoU between IoBM and UoK promotes partnerships in research, innovation, and knowledge exchange, which are crucial for advancing sustainable practices and fostering mutual growth through cooperative efforts.
Present on this occasion representing IoBM were Dr. Ather Akhlaq, Director ORIC, Syed Faraz Ali, Manager ORIC, Ms. Donia Niaz, Assistant Manager ORIC, Ms. Humaira Kanwal, Research Officer ORIC. Representing the University of Karachi were Dr. Abdul Waheed, Registrar, Dr. Syeda Hoorulain, Director ORIC, Dr. Asma Tabassum, Manager Research and Development and ORIC Team members.
Present on this occasion representing IoBM were Dr. Ather Akhlaq, Director ORIC, Syed Faraz Ali, Manager ORIC, Ms. Donia Niaz, Assistant Manager ORIC, Ms. Humaira Kanwal, Research Officer ORIC. Representing the University of Karachi were Dr. Abdul Waheed, Registrar, Dr. Syeda Hoorulain, Director ORIC, Dr. Asma Tabassum, Manager Research and Development and ORIC Team members.