Innovative Technologies and Skills Park (ITSP) (Technologies-driven Knowledge Economy)

Context

The Government of Pakistan acknowledged that individuals with high-technology based qualifications can play an important role in managing the ‘Technology-Driven Knowledge Economy’ of the future.  To promote technology driven knowledge economy in the country, Prime Minister of Pakistan has set up a Task Force on Science & Technology consisting of the best minds of Industry, leading scientists and engineers from public and private sector. Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman is the Chairman of Prime Minister’s Task Force. Rector, NUTECH is a member of the Task Force.

During Task Force meeting held on 21.08.2019, besides other projects to boost S&T across the country, Rector NUTECH highlighted critical shortage of high end skilled force / professionals, critically important to achieve objectives of the technology-driven knowledge economy.  He offered to establish ‘Innovative Technologies and Skills Park’ (ITSP), ensuring the development of skills required to collaborate and implement the design and product development integration. Facilities at DSTP will ensure a quantum leap necessary for revival of industry in Pakistan. Focus will be on the existing and emerging technologies that are already contributing to Industry.  These skills will be domain specific and will ensure training, development and certifications of the industry. Initially 25 domains of the industry would be targeted in phased manner.

Concept of Innovative Technologies and Skills Parks (ITSP)

Technology is evolving faster than ever before and likewise. Skills required for the jobs are also changing faster. Companies across the world are facing challenges in finding skilled workforce at required skills levels. 4th industrial revolution is expected to bring higher level of automation and interconnectivity in the manufacturing process. Tools, technologies and machines to be used are expected to be different from what is present today. Smart machines will coordinate manufacturing processes by themselves, smart service robots will collaborate with workers on assembly line and smart transport systems will transfer goods from one place to another.

Project Proposal

Emerging technologies have created a gap of hi-tech skills in Pakistan that needs to be addressed. NUTECH envisages maximizing need driven industrial output by revolutionizing technology education sector in Pakistan through the creation of Innovative Technologies and Skills Park (ITSP). Transform raw human resource into invaluable capital by producing highly skilled workforce to meet the needs of national, regional and international industry. Proposed facilities at ITSP will provide platform, necessary for skill sets required to play their part in industrial development of Pakistan. Academia / researchers and industry will bring together to transform the needs of customers to realistic products. Facilities at ITSP will inspire innovation, introduce and embed hi-tech skills in both academia and industry to generate economic growth via knowledge-intensive activities.  Focus will be on domain specific R&D activities, while also ensuring training, development and certifications of relevant HR required by industry at par with international standard.

Based on the thorough consultations and discussions with all stake holders to achieve the objectives of ITSP, a comprehensive project proposal have been developed at a capital cost Rs 14040.739 million   including FEC Rs.7183.585 million  and submitted to the MoST for consideration of PM’s Taskforce on S&T and further processing. Proposed facilities will provide physical infrastructure, highly qualified faculty / researchers, R&D Labs, business incubation facilities, legal framework to protect rights of all stake holders, incentives to industry and academia at one place. Facilitates will be established at the main campus of NUTECH, Islamabad. Proposed facilities will be an ideal place for academia and industry for high-tech skills professional accredited trainings, R&D activities, product development. Workforce trained there, will help in meeting the critically felt needs of industrial experts.