Introduction

The Office of Research, Innovation & commercialization was established at the Ziauddin University in the year 2015 and it became operational on 28th October 2020, with the aim of operating under the vision of Ziauddin University and the guidelines of HEC. ORIC-Ziauddin University is now eligible for enhanced facilities for all HEC sponsored research projects and grants. Dr. Zulfiqar Ali Umrani, an award-winning innovation and entrepreneurship professional, is currently serving as the Director of ORIC.

HEC aims at motivating and facilitating the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to make research a top priority for sustainable economic growth and future knowledge economy. For this purpose, HEC announced the establishment of a central body in universities to serve as a pivotal point, encompassing all the research activities – from the development of research proposals to the commercialization of research products – under a single umbrella. These centers were named “Offices of Research, Innovation and Commercialization (ORICs)”.

The purpose of the Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC) is to develop, expand, enhance and manage the Ziauddin University research-related programmes and to link research activities directly to the educational, social and economic priorities of the university and its broader community.

“Enabling Ziauddin University to drive high impact innovation, applied research and entrepreneurship to benefit our society”

To promote the public good by advancing science, fostering innovation, and translating new inventions made at Ziauddin University into useful products/services/procedures that are available and beneficial to society. It works in partnership with colleagues in academic departments, colleges and external stakeholders to provide comprehensive support for research, enterprise, impact and knowledge exchange activity.

The Office of Research, Innovation & Commercialization (ORIC) aims to:

• Promote a vibrant, innovative, and entrepreneurial environment for conducting quality research with an aim to grow the knowledge
• Strengthen Triple-Helix+ linkages to build collaborative ventures which benefit our society.
• Develop strong and long-term bonds with policy-making and research funding agencies to support research, development, innovation and commercialization incentives.
• Through business incubation and research/innovation park, promote entrepreneurship amongst faculty, staff and students.
• The Office of Research, Innovation & Commercialization (ORIC) seeks to enhance the research culture at Ziauddin University and realise the above-mentioned objectives by:
• Developing strategic research directions and policies
• Increasing and diversifying research funding
• Strengthening university-industry relationships
• Promoting entrepreneurship and innovation
• Technology transfer and commercialization
• Protecting university’s intellectual property
• Supporting progress on the SDGs

ORIC is in continued pursuit of ever greater accomplishments in research & innovation through our commitment to curiosity, excellence and quality. Ziauddin University’s research status is on the rise. There are an increasing number of ‘High Impact Factor’ publications and our researchers are breaking new grounds. It is great to see our researchers applying for national and international grants and building new collaborations. Ziauddin University is uniquely positioned with active faculties in Health Sciences, Pharmacy, Nursing, Engineering & Technology, Social Sciences and Liberal Arts with a growing presence across Sindh. Ziauddin University is in expansion with an international outlook. We look forward to building upon our strengths and increasing our impact.

The office of Research, innovation & Commercialization is composed of four functional units these units work as independent and collaborative departments. ORIC ZU has university wide research groups and an active community of focal persons this facilitate in fulfilling the research objectives of ORIC & Ziauddin University.

Commercialization of applied academic research along with technology transfer and industry collaborations would bring the required outcomes for the economic and scientific achievement of the country. ORIC has developed mechanisms for research commercialization and is setting up a Business Incubator and IPO office to support both researchers and budding startups.

Ziauddin Entrepreneurship Society operates under the umbrella of ORIC as a student wing that is dedicated to discovering, engage and fostering creativity and bringing up true entrepreneurial leaders from the university.

The objectives of BIC include fostering an entrepreneurial culture, by providing the students and faculty of Ziauddin University, an opportunity to transform their technology-based business ideas into reality. Providing support to entrepreneurs across ideation, acceleration, investment and scale-up stages.

Forge partnerships with other organisations for providing services to incubate or the incubator; liaison with the government and industries. Marketing the incubator and business development and actively promoting it through various channels etc. It further aims to facilitate the availability of Ziauddin University resources to the incubates in a mutually beneficial way by liaising with private/public sector funding sources, government agencies, industrial associations, chambers of commerce and industries to provide facilitation and networking for incubating companies.

Ph: 92-21-35862939

Fax: 92-21-35862940

Email: [email protected]

Address: 4/B Shahra-e-Ghalib, Block 6 , Clifton, Karachi-75600, Pakistan.