A study of Scopus, the world’s most comprehensive, multidisciplinary database of scholarly literature, data, and analytics reveals astonishingly positive figures about the progress made in the quality and quantum of research by Pakistan in the last 20 years.
Pakistan was ranked a lowly 48th in the world in the year 2000 in the field of agriculture. In 2023, it was ranked 15th in the world, a huge improvement. In economics, it was ranked a poor 96th in the world. In 2023, it was ranked at a remarkable 17th in the world. In physics, Pakistan has progressed from 59th position in the world ranking to 23rd position.
In biochemistry/microbiology, we have progressed from 62nd to 21st position in world rankings. In chemical engineering, we have improved from the 63rd position to the 20th position in the world. These are no mean achievements, and we can be rightly proud of them, despite the turbulence faced by the higher education sector due to slashed government funding during the last 10 years.
No country in the world has made such spectacular progress in research quality and output in a short period of 20 years. This has happened because of the quality-focused reforms introduced by us in the higher education sector during 2000-2008 when I was federal minister of science and technology and later founding chairman of the HEC. The presence of such luminaries as Dr Akram Sheikh and Dr Sohail Naqvi in the HEC and the Planning Commission facilitated the transformation.
The primary focus of the HEC programmes was to develop high-quality faculty. To achieve this, thousands of our brightest students were sent abroad to leading universities in the US and Europe for PhD and post-doctoral training. The world's largest Fulbright programme was launched to facilitate the training of our students in top US universities. Second, job placements were ensured upon their return. Third, returning students were offered research grants of up to $100,000, which they could apply for one year before their return to Pakistan. They also received free access to international literature through a digital library.
Additionally, a unique scheme provided free access to sophisticated instruments across the country, with analytical charges covered by the HEC. Quality measures included split PhD programmes involving collaboration and co-supervision with professors from reputable foreign universities, extensive coursework requirements, PhD thesis assessments by foreign professors etc. To address quality assurance, a network of Quality Assurance Cells was established in universities.
Despite the remarkable progress made by Pakistan in research, we remain a relatively backward country with little impact of this research on socio-economic development. What else must we do to translate research into commercial product and process development? There are twelve concrete steps that we must now take to build on our remarkable research progress.
First, strong intellectual property (IP) laws and an effective judicial system to quickly resolve disputes are crucial for protecting inventors' rights, encouraging innovation, and ensuring that researchers can profit from their discoveries.
Second, developing a skilled workforce is another critical step. Education systems must produce technically skilled individuals capable of developing and commercializing new technologies. This involves high-quality STEM education, vocational training, and continuous professional development.
Third, creating innovation clusters can significantly enhance the commercialization process. These clusters bring together research institutions, startups, and established companies to collaborate on technology development. Silicon Valley in the United States serves as a prime example, housing major tech companies like Google and Apple alongside numerous startups and research institutions like Stanford University, fostering a vibrant ecosystem of innovation.
Fourth, technology parks integrated into university systems with suitable infrastructure and funds for meaningful joint projects with industries are essential. There are many excellent examples of such parks internationally. The Technology Park at the Pak Austria Fachhochschule in Haripur Hazara set up by us is a good example.
Fifth, government grants for commercializing university research with potential play a pivotal role in supporting research and development projects, from early-stage research to commercialization. These grants support pilot plant-level upscaling, and preparation of bankable feasibility studies, and they often target high-risk, high-reward projects that might not attract private investment. The European Union's Horizon 2020 programme, for instance, has funded thousands of research projects, such as the Graphene Flagship, aimed at taking graphene from laboratories to commercial applications. This is an excellent programme that we could emulate in Pakistan.
Sixth, encouraging public-private partnerships leverages the strengths of both sectors to drive innovation. Governments can provide funding and infrastructure, while private companies bring expertise and market access. Fostering entrepreneurship and startups is vital for transforming research into viable businesses. This involves supporting entrepreneurship through angel investments, incubators, accelerators, and mentorship programmes, and access to funding. A strong venture capital ecosystem is necessary to provide the funding required for startups to scale their innovations.
Seventh, Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) are essential in helping researchers commercialize their discoveries. These offices offer services like patenting, licensing, and business development, often working closely with industry partners.
Eighth, streamlining regulatory approvals is essential for ensuring that new products can reach the market quickly without compromising safety or quality. Efficient regulatory processes include clear guidelines and fast-tracking procedures for innovative technologies. Singapore's Health Sciences Authority (HSA), for example, offers clear regulatory pathways for medical devices and pharmaceuticals, enabling companies like Medtronic and Abbott to bring new health technologies to market swiftly.
Ninth, implementing tax incentives for R&D activities encourages companies to invest in innovation. These incentives can include tax credits, deductions, and accelerated depreciation for research expenditures. The 15-year tax incentive introduced by us in 2001 for the IT industry when I was federal minister is an excellent example. Such incentives must be introduced to promote the manufacture and export of high-tech products.
Tenth, building advanced infrastructure, including high-speed internet, research facilities, and manufacturing capabilities within private enterprises, is crucial for the development and production of new technologies.
Eleventh, there is a need to formulate a National Innovation Policy with a clear strategic plan for implementation in a time-targeted manner. The funds required for the implementation of such a plan must be provided by the government and this should be impregnated into the strategic vision of all ministries.
Twelfth, and most importantly, all of the above cannot be done without an honest, technologically competent and visionary government. All ministers and secretaries must be top technocrats in the country who understand the importance of transitioning to a strong technology-driven knowledge economy.
By addressing these twelve steps systematically and comprehensively, Pakistan can effectively translate research into commercial products, driving economic growth through the manufacture and export of high-technology goods and services.
The writer is a former federal minister, Unesco
science laureate and founding chairperson of the Higher
Education Commission (HEC). He can be reached at: ibne_sinahotmail.com