6.6.

Steps in establishing a technology park in Pakistan

The following is a non-all-inclusive and not-necessarily-sequential list of steps that
should be taken towards establishing a technology park in Pakistan NUST. It should
serve as a planning tool, not a comprehensive blueprint: clearly define the mission
of the park. Select founding partners that subscribe to the mission. Generate
support for park at relevant state institutions (Ministry of Industry, Ministry of
Science and education), Bulgarian universities, and the Bulgarian Academy of
Science. Win for the idea dynamic companies from the software development and
information technology sector. Select a site for the park. Prepare a feasibility
study on the building reconstruction and modernization for the purpose of hosting a
park. Prepare financial projections based on the start-up costs, investments, and
revenues of the park. Develop different financing options on the basis of the
number of tenants, the rent and maintenance costs of the incubator and park.
Secure start-up financing. Establish a screening/selection procedure for incubator
projects and park tenants. Incorporate the park and appoint a managing company.
Set up the incubator. Market the park. Select projects for the incubator and
tenant companies for the park.

The key functions of the Science & Technology Park are:

1. To provide an exhibition and developmental platform for academia and industry
(local and international)
2. To develop knowledge-based enterprises by undertaking research based routes
to the development and commercialization of ideas and technologies
3. To act as a knowledge provider by establishing university research and education
infrastructure, applied research laboratory facilities by public bodies at the
Technology Park
4. To be a dynamic business and trading platform for local and international
industries
5. To showcase Pak-China commodities in order to provide impetus to the existing
collaborative ventures while simultaneously encouraging new linkages
6. To act as a wholesale and retail market

7. To provide Financial support services such as through establishing venture

capital entities, regional development agencies and/or banks at the Technology
Park
8. To provide modern e-commerce platform keeping up with latest global trends
9. To act as an investment and financing platform for novel startups and
technologies
10. To set-up Business Incubators and Business Development Centers, both for
male and female entrepreneurs alike.
National Science and Technology Park (also known as NUST Park) is an underconstruction science park in the National University of Sciences and Technology in
Islamabad, Pakistan. It is certified by the International Association of Science Parks.The project is
being developed in partnership with Tuspark The project aims to promote R&D.

Research and development

Research and development (R&D), also known in Europe as research and technical (or
technological) development (RTD), is a general term for activities in connection with corporate or
governmental innovation. Research and development is a component of Innovation and is situated
at the front end of the Innovation life cycle. Innovation builds on R&D and includes commercialization
phases.
The activities that are classified as R&D differ from company to company, but there are two primary
models, with an R&D department being either staffed by engineers and tasked with
directly developing new products, or staffed with industrial scientists and tasked with applied
research in scientific or technological fields which may facilitate future product development. In either
case, R&D differs from the vast majority of corporate activities in that it is not often intended to yield
immediate profit, and generally carries greater risk and an uncertain return on investment.

As Pakistan's No. 1 Engineering & Technology University, with rich intellectual capital and strong
academic and industry collaborations, NUST is well placed to contribute to national socioeconomic
development
The National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST) is Pakistan's No. 1 Engineering & Technology
University, and is recognized as a Centre of Excellence for advanced scientific and technological research
in Pakistan. Cognizant of its role in the development of Pakistan's economy, it takes pride in the quality of
research, and emphasis on solution-based, industry-specific R&D. It has strong linkages with the industry,
with over 150 top CEOs of the country, and productive collaboration with NUST Institutes. With an
Intellectual capital and research base of 23 constituent institutions, 15,000+ students, world-class faculty,
state-of-the-art laboratories and research infrastructure and international research collaboration with
almost 100 institutions worldwide, it is well-placed to play its role in national socioeconomic development.
China and Pakistan enjoy excellent strategic relations. These relations are indicative of the strong
friendship and brotherhood that prevails between the two nations. Enhancing science and technology
(S&T) based cooperation between China and Pakistan forms a key aspect of the goal of further solidifying
the association between the two countries. For realisation of this objective, NUST has played a leading
role in promoting wide-ranging S&T-based collaboration with Chinese universities. As part of its focused
efforts, it has entered into a landmark agreement with the Tsinghua University Science Park, or TusPark,
for creating a consultative platform for construction, development and management of the National
Science and Technology Park (NSTP), the first university-hosted Science & Technology Park (STP) of
Pakistan, being established at NUST.
NSTP partakes of the spirit of Vision 2025 and is aligned with its cardinal pillars. It also enjoys
considerable complementarities with the developmental thrust of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor
(CPEC). NSTP in particular, and STPs in general, should be seen as related initiatives for undertaking
correct and comprehensive development of Special Economic Zones (SEZs), which form an Integral part
of the CPEC, as both STPs and SEZs form important components of the technology-based growth and
development. The partnership between NUST and TusPark will pave the way for the incorporation of
NSTP as a flagship program for S&T, innovation and higher education components of the CPEC.

University STPs have become an essential ingredient in the national innovation system of China. With
over 100 science parks, China is one of the science park leaders of the world. TusPark is one of the
world's largest university-based science parks; it was established in 1994 by the Tsinghua University,
Beijing, China.

NSTP will be the first university-hosted Science & Technology Park (STP) in Pakistan. NSTP shall create
a unique Knowledge-Based Multi-Industry Cluster to catalyze economic activity in Pakistan

NSTP will help towards the fulfillment of national S&T development goals. In this regard, the broad space
for cooperation provided by various agreements between China and Pakistan for scientific and technical
cooperation will be utilised by the parties to the agreement.
The partnership between NUST and TusPark will pave the way for the incorporation of NSTP as a
flagship program for S&T, innovation and higher education components of the CPEC

What is National Science and Technology Park (NSTP)?

The National Science and Technology Park (NSTP) is NUSTs initiative to encourage knowledge creation at the
cutting edge and develop organization, human and social capital to compete in the global economy. It is based on a

new business model, which has emerged over the last thirty years and is now being widely recognized as an
important ingredient in developing the knowledge economy through a more effective working relationship between
academia, business and government. This relationship has been described as the Triple Helix Model in which
universities take an active part in technology commercialization, government needs to fund this process and
business needs to become active in knowledge discovery in their market and to put this to economic use through
innovation. The proposed NSTP aims to foster innovation and encourage industrialization through building networks
stretching far beyond the major institutions today to include a comprehensive knowledge ecosystem of
entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, professors, students professionals (from various sectors) and under-privileged
communities for mentoring and learning.

02 WHY NSTP?

NUST is Pakistans premier HEI with a progressive and innovative outlook. The new technology-smart campus in
Islamabad nestles not only with some premier educational institutes and research centres but also enjoys close
vicinity of the capital's industrial sector. The campus houses hi-tech, state of the art laboratories besides access to
a pool of highly qualified individuals. Given these attributes, NUST offers an ideal platform for both startup and
existing businesses to leverage NUSTs knowledge base.

Question: How will it benefit the Government?

The Government of Pakistan will benefit through funding and active participation in the activities of NSTP as this
initiative aims to actualize Governments policy of enhancing the competitiveness of the national economy in line
with Vision 2030 of Pakistan. The proposed NSTP will contribute towards improvements in industrial activities in
Pakistan, generate jobs and improve worldwide reputation of Pakistan in terms of both knowledge and economic
development.

Benefits
NUST aims to increase the wealth of its community by promoting the culture of innovation and entrepreneurship
through the establishment of this Park. It will be an alliance between the University, the Government, business
enterprises, and R&D institutes with an objective to create a dynamic Knowledge Ecosystem drawing together the
best intellectual minds, their innovative research and the latest technologies in a wide number of areas to catalyze
economic activity in the country and develop unique Knowledge Based Multi-Industry Cluster. The NSTP envisions
integrating the output of research in science, technology and engineering; entrepreneurs; business support and
development capital in order to create new knowledge based businesses. The Park would be developed as means of
stimulating start-up and growth of technologically intensive, knowledge-based businesses, and would facilitate the
development of national innovation ecosystems for socio-economic development of the country. It will act as an
incubating base for private sector ventures; a training base for nurturing innovate skills; and as an experimental
zone for new technologies by establishing an Entrepreneurship & Innovation Centre, R&D Centre, Science Centre,
Technology Incubation Centre, Manufacturing Resource Centre, IT and Telecom Data Centre and a Learning
Academy that will provide technical & vocational expertise and entrepreneurship training.

Question: Who will come to the NSTP (The Tenants)?

The NSTP shall house start-up companies in order to commercialize their R&D work besides local, regional and
international companies who presently have a market presence in Pakistan, or desire to achieve it.

Question: How will the tenants benefit?

Tenant companies will achieve a significant point of presence in the region especially from an R&D perspective such
as:
1. Convenient economic terms and conditions for access to the research infrastructure at NSTP.
2. Access to a community of high quality businessmen, technologists, managers, consultants professors, students
and venture capitalists sharing the same professional interest in technology, in the same place and at the same
time, with the NSTP management committed to stimulate and nurture such a community
3. Availability of a skilled work-force pool from graduate and undergraduate students of NUST.

Question: Why would a company come to NSTP?

NUST is Pakistans premier HEI with a progressive and innovative outlook. The new technology-smart campus in
Islamabad nestles not only with some premier educational institutes and research centres, but also enjoys close
vicinity of the capital's industrial sector. The campus houses hi-tech, state of the art laboratories besides access to
a pool of highly qualified individuals. Given these attributes, NUST offers an ideal platform for both startup and
existing businesses to leverage NUSTs knowledge base.

Question:
NSTP will offer long term leasing and moderate to short term rental facilities to fulfill the operational needs of
companies at different levels of growth stage. The tenants could be categorized into the following group:

a. Innovation Lots:
This category would comprise of Individuals, entrepreneurs, scientists, engineers, innovators and start-up entities
at pre-production stage. The basic idea would be to provide undergraduate and graduate level students with an
opportunity to develop ideas and projects in a group structure and to gain experience necessary for real world
business sectors.
b. Incubators Lots:
Individuals & companies expanding from prototyping and pre-production stages to market testing and production
will be housed here. Fledgling entrepreneurial businesses will be given physical space alongside shared
infrastructure (phone, internet, video conferencing, copying, printing, etc.), business planning, management, and
technical services on an on-going basis till they develop into self-sustaining businesses ready to transition into open
market.

c. Enterprise Lots:
Mature, self-sustaining businesses and R&D wings of multi-national companies would be housed here. Each of
these buildings will have an auditorium, several conference rooms, training rooms, video conferencing, computer
labs, restaurant, and a corner shop. The businesses residing in these buildings will not require extensive business
development services from the NSTP. However, partnerships will be developed with selected businesses on an
equity/VC investment basis.
d. Land Lease:
Land parcels will also be available for lease to fully commercialized clients who would want to build their own
customized buildings for performing R&D or light manufacturing/assembly operations with an element of
product/process development. The parcels will come in various sizes with basic infrastructure such as electric
power cables, water piping, telecommunication channels and gas pipelines.
All of the above mentioned lots will come with infrastructures and activities that fulfill needs of technology based
companies. Since the Park will have all kinds of support facilities in terms of RS&D labs for engineering, IT and Biomedical Sciences, it will not only help incubatees and entrepreneurs in their business development but also large
enterprises in their technology innovation and development.

Question: What is the present state of the NSTP programme?

As a major step towards realizing the goal of building countrys first Science &Technology Park NUST has also
already started developing policies, plans, facilities and services to support the planned NSTP and is the first

organization from Pakistan to become a Full Member of International Association of Science Parks (IASP), a
worldwide network of Science & Technology Parks having 375 members from 70 countries across the world; as well
as the World Technopolis Association (WTA), a multilateral international organization created with the purpose to
connect the advancement of science and technology with local development. Needless to say, these prestigious
associations would prove invaluable to NUST in the establishment of its own NSTP.
In an effort to benchmark international best practices and build internal capacity; senior officials from NUST have
attended numerous training programs and courses on the development of STPs in UK, USA, Asia and have visited
Silicon Valley in the USA, Surrey Research Park, UK to Tsinghua University Science Park in China, Daedeok
Innopolis in South Korea, METU (Middle East Technical University) in Turkey, in addition to visiting parks in the far
east i.e Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore. The university already houses a Technology Incubation Centre (TIC),
Intellectual Property Office (IPO), Technology Transfer Office (TTO), Industry Liaison Office (ILO), Corporate
Advisory Council (CAC) and Design & Manufacturing Resource Centre (DMRC).
The Executive Committee of NSTP has also been instituted and comprises Engr. M Asghar- Rector NUST, Engr. M
Akram Sheikh-Professor Emeritus-NUST, Mr. Irfan Ahmad Akhtar-CFO-NUST and Advisor-NUST.
As part of NUSTs recent initiative of establishing a Global Think Tank Network (GTTN), a high profile Expert Group
for NSTP Planning & Development was recently formed and comprises eminent specialists from relevant fields. The
high profile member list includes;
o

Professor Deog-Seong Oh, General Secretary, WTA, Professor, Chungnam National University,
Republic of Korea

Dr. Malcolm Parry , Managing Director of The Surrey Research Park, UK

Dr. Herbert Chen, Vice President of Tsinghua University Science Park

Mr. Shahid Mehmood, CEO- Interactive Convergence (Pvt.) Ltd.

Mr. Colin Hu, Deputy CEO & CTO, Huawei Technologies, Pakistan

Mr. Irfan Ahmad Akhtar, CFO NUST

Engr. Akbar Bukhari, Ex. Dir NUST Medical Complex Programme (NMCP)

Dr. Abdul Ghafoor, Principal NUST School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering (SMME)

Mr. Amer Hashmi, Advisor- NUST

Another landmark achievement towards the realization of the planned NSTP, is the fact that the World Technopolis
Association (WTA)-UNESCO Team visited NUST in January, 2012, comprising Prof. Deog-Seong-Oh and Dr. Malcolm
Parry, besides some other senior officials of WTA-UNESCO. Intense consultative sessions were held upon their
arrival with participation from all the public-private STI experts, and internal and external stakeholders. The
purpose of the visit and the study was to work with the team at NUST to develop a broad based plan and a
subsequent report for the development of the NSTP.
The phase of physical development of NSTP is planned to begin in the near future and it is hoped that this
landmark venture shall help transform the technological and industrial landscape of Pakistan, propelling this hugely
talented nation in a direction that leads to its true destiny; a progressive, modern and prosperous country with
opportunities for all.

SERVICES & FACILITIES

The NSTP is envisioned to establish, state of the art infrastructure to house a range of firms from the ICT, Engineering,
Automotive, Bio. Tech /Bio. Pharm. /Medical Sciences, Banking & Financial Services Defense Technologies, Automotive
Engineering Chemical and Infrastructure Sectors to name a few.
Having a multi-industry cluster for NSTP is the right approach since it would provide Pakistan with a geographical location
where enough resources and competences will come together, giving it a key position in the economy with a competitive edge
over other places in the region.

NUST has recently established a Design and Manufacturing Resource Center (DMRC), which focuses on three areas of
technology; namely Design, Process and System Engineering. The cutting edge DMRC building is suitable for diverse
production operations as desired by client companies both in the incubator and enterprise buildings. In near future, this facility
shall acquire a supply of manufacturing and assembly equipment suitable for manufacturing operations. Incubatees will also be
able to construct their production lines by organizing the available equipment and assembly tools as per their manufacturing
process. The equipment and tools could be employed to set up production lines for a diverse range of products. MRC would
eventually emerge as a one-stop-center for the designing, prototyping, consulting, production and manufacturing services.
The university already houses a Technology Incubation Centre (TIC), Intellectual Property Office (IPO), Technology Transfer
Office (TTO), Industry Liaison Office (ILO), Marketing & Communications Office (MCO), Science and Technology Ventures Ltd
(STV), Professional Development Centre (PDC), Career Development Centre (CDC) and Corporate Advisory Council (CAC).
In addition to the above, the NSTP envisions to establish a Research & Development (R&D) Centre, a facility for hi-tech
businesses & leading edge science to come together, Rental Services Unit to offer long term leasing and moderate to short
term rental facilities to fulfill the operational needs of companies at different levels of growth stage, Technology
Commercialization Unit, Tertiary and Vocational Education Institute, Business Development Unit Support and Recreation
Services.

The positive externalities behind the Pak-China IT Park include increased economic activity
through investment and job creation, capability enhancement, improving visibility of knowledge
ventures, and stimulating knowledge workers mobility, etc.
It seeks to encourage innovation, entrepreneurship, promote S&T ventures, provide interface to
academia and industry thus spurring competitiveness of the geographic environs through colocating knowledge producing, knowledge adapting and knowledge-using enterprises.

WELCOME TO NSTP
The National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST) aims to become a hub for public and private technological
enhancement and development of human capital through the establishment of a National Science and Technology
Park(NSTP) at its main Islamabad campus. The NSTPs goal is to encourage knowledge creation at the cutting edge and
develop organization, human and social capital to compete in the global economy. The NSTP will build networks stretching far
beyond the major institutions today to include a comprehensive knowledge ecosystem of entrepreneurs, venture capitalists,
professors, students professionals (from various sectors) and under-privileged communities for mentoring and learning.
The NSTP will promote interaction between institutional elements i.e. Universities, research parks, large companies, venture
funds etc and non-institutional elements i.e. talent, bodies of knowledge and virtual communities to create job opportunities for
the youth and link local assets to global and domestic markets generating value. NUST envisions providing stimulus to
catalyze economic activity in the country and developing a unique Knowledge Based Multi-Industry Cluster including segments
of the IT& Telecom, Engineering, Bio tech/Bio Pharma, Banking/Financial Services, Defense Technologies, Power and
Automotive Industries .Based on the conviction that new research clusters in developing countries will capture an increasing
share of global R&D investment and increasing the volume added in technology innovations; The NSTP will encompass an
Entrepreneurship & Innovation Centre, R&D Centre, Science Centre, Technology Incubation Centre, Manufacturing Resource

Centre, IT and Telecom Data Center and a Learning Academy that will provide Technical & Vocational expertise and
Entrepreneurship and Leadership Training. The NSTP will also host a Research Commercialization Center, University-Industry
liaison nucleus, event management and recreational facilities. Moreover, the park will have a distinctive Knowledge Brokering
facility by means of which it will act as an Information intermediary to provide advice on selection of goods or services, business
intelligence, or research data to interested parties.
NUST will be responsible for conceptualization and implementation of the NSTP. However, the University will seek to establish
the park with financial, operational and thought leadership support from federal and provincial government bodies, International
development donors, private equity participants and venture capitalists. In line with the global trends, NUSTwants to transform
into an economic engine, eventually fuelling the Regional knowledge ecosystems.
INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIONS

Picturess saved in folders

Beijing, June 29: - National University of Sciences and Technology and Tus-Holdings
signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Saturday for establishment of the
National Science and Technology Park at NUST. Tus-Holdings is the operating company of
Tsinghua University Science Park, China. The MoU was signed by Jiwu Wang, CEO TusHoldings Co. Ltd and Engr Muhammad Asghar, Rector NUST. Under the MoU, both sides
will consider to set up a joint venture company for the establishment of NSTP in
Islamabad.

The MoU will enable Tus-Holdings to transfer its experience of consolidated innovation
space formation to the creation of NSTP, suitably modified to suit the demands and
realities of innovation in Pakistan.

The MoU signing ceremony was attended by Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Planning,
Development and Reform, Sun Weidong, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, Prof Dr

Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan, Kamran Ali
Qureshi, Federal Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, and other senior
government officials.

From the Chinese side, Herbert Chen and Xiang Chen and other notable members of
Tus-Holdings were present on the occasion. The agreement with Tus-Holdings is the
latest in the series of cooperative initiatives that NUST has developed since 2011 with
different Chinese universities, research institutes and policy centres.
The Global Think Tank Network has already been running an active knowledge
partnership with Tsinghua and Peking Universities as part of its China Node, having
provided critical intellectual and analytical underpinnings for creating a sustainable and
multidimensional cooperation with China, including the CPEC. NSTP will help towards the
fulfillment of national science and development goals.

In this regard, the broad space for cooperation provided by various agreements between
China and Pakistan for scientific and technical cooperation will be utilised by the parties
to the agreement.
NSTP partakes of the spirit of Vision 2025 and is aligned with its cardinal pillars. It also
enjoys considerable complementarities with the developmental thrust of the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). NSTP in particular, and STPs in general, should be
seen as related initiatives for undertaking correct and comprehensive development of
Special Economic Zones (SEZs), which form an integral part of the CPEC, as both STPs
and SEZs form important components of the technology-based growth and development.
The partnership between NUST and TusPark will pave the way for the incorporation of
NSTP as a flagship program for S&T, innovation and higher education components of the
CPEC.

The NSTP is NUSTs capstone programme for the development of Pakistans first
university-based STP. It was conceived as a means to harness the intellectual prowess
of NUSTs faculty and students, exploit their innovative research potential and
entrepreneurial spirit to create a dynamic Knowledge Ecosystem facilitating high-tech
R&D.

The NSTP concept is in line with the proven models of technology clusters built around
eminent universities like Stanford University in the USA, Tsinghua University in China
and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) in South Korea, to
name a few.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Planning, Development
and Reform, highlighted the significance of the MoU in the context of expanding
economic cooperation between Pakistan and China. I t would help further the objectives
of Pak-China Economic Corridor and Vision 2025, he added.
Sun Weidong, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, congratulated NUST for taking the
initiative of establishing the first-ever science and technology park in Pakistan, which
would strengthen the existing friendly ties between the two countries.

Speaking on occasion, Pakistan's Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal
said the government was committed to accommodate all the federating units in ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor projects as decided by the All Parties Conference.

He said the missing links would be developed while the western route of the CPEC would
be completed by 2016.

Ahsan Iqbal said CPEC is not just a project to develop roads rather over seventy per
cent of the investment would be made on energy generation projects.

Quotation
Our way of life has been influenced by the way technology
has developed. In future, it seems to me, we ought to try to
reverse this and so develop our technology that it meets the
needs of the sort of life we wish to lead.
PRINCE PHILIP, Men, Machines and Sacred Cows, 1984. (S&S)
The science of today is the technology of tomorrow