TAXILA: A two-day Conference on Academia’s Collaboration with Industrial Organisations (CACIO-2021) was held on Monday to promote academia-industry linkages through applied and meaningful research in order to provide effective solutions to socio-economic problems of the country.

A large number of researchers and academicians from various parts of the country participated in the conference arranged by the University of Wah in collaboration with Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POFs).

Addressing the inaugural session, Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) Chief Lt-Gen Ali Amir Awan expressed the hope that the conference would serve as a productive platform to promote collaboration between the researchers and the business circles for taking advantage of the new innovations in the economic pursuits.

Gen Awan called for making the research beneficial for society and humanity as a whole.

“Research is of no need, if it does not leave a positive impact on the living conditions of the people,” he added.

He highlighted the importance of industry-academia linkages and the vital role the academic institutions could play in solving the problems faced by industries in Pakistan.

He said contribution of bright ideas from academic institutes can help significantly in curtailing the budget of the major industrial setups which can result in overall prosperity of the country.

University of Wah Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Jameelun Nabi stressed that applied research should also be made an essential component of such academic efforts.

He said that the university would continue to fulfill its main responsibility of disseminating knowledge through publication of research journals and holding of research-based conferences.

So far they have published nine journals, besides holding of 12 conferences of national and international importance.

Dignitaries, eminent personalities and representatives from well-reputed industrial and academic sectors of Pakistan attended the conference.

A total of 10 prominent speakers delivered their keynote addresses during the course of the conference.

The conference was well appreciated by the researchers and participants who acknowledged the University of Wah and POF’s joint endeavours for fostering and expediting the fruitful deliberations, discussions, and the substantial insights through it.

Published in Dawn, December 28th, 2021