Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization

Meaningful and product-oriented research with an impact on the industry is the top priority of PAF-IAST. The Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC) at the Institute strives to bridge the gap that has existed for decades between the Pakistani Academia and Industry through close liaison and frequent interactions.

ORIC at the Institute plays a pivotal role not only in helping faculty and students to develop research proposals and get their research funded, but it also facilitates the researchers in the commercialization of their ideas and research products. This office regularly arranges meetings of faculty with the industry to help build industrial linkages of the faculty. Through these linkages, technical problems of the Industry are solved in a cost-effective and time-efficient manner that results ultimately in technology transfer. The ORIC at the Institute organizes awareness seminars related to R&D activities on the campus, inviting different industry and research organizations providing visibility to the research potentials and credentials of the Institute.

Through the business incubators and technology park at PAF-IAST, this office offers unprecedented opportunities for startups and venture capitalists to set up business enterprises on the campus. In a very short period of its existence, this office has successfully built an echo that has very recently culminated in the award of a certificate to PAF-IAST as a zone developer from the Special Technology Zone Authority (STZA) of Pakistan. Through its strategic planning, this office is set to help PAF-IAST emerge as a major player in contributing to the knowledge economy of Pakistan.

The PAF-IAST was established with the slogan of “Skilling Pakistan”. The focus here is product-based research. For this purpose, the faculty and students are motivated to conduct research which has a tangible impact on society. For this purpose, the faculty members and students are encouraged to conduct research which can be commercialized and can create a pleasant impact on society. These impacts may be in terms of jobs & business opportunities creation, a positive impact on health, food security, environment, energy etc.

Vision:

To translate research work conducted at the institute to economy which lead to a pleasant impact on society.

Mission:

• To bridge between industries, funding agencies, government organizations and other stakeholders & the PAF-IAST.
• To facilitate faculty and students in commercialization of their research.
• To translate research conducted at PAF-IAST into national economy and society.
• To support faculty in preparing their research proposals for submission to national & international funding agencies.
• To help researchers in protection of their intellectual properties.

The Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC) continued to drive PAF-IAST’s research agenda with strategic focus, measurable growth, and academic rigor. In 2024, the university’s research output and funding activities demonstrated both maturity and momentum.

High-Impact Publications: A total of 132 journal publications were produced during the year, achieving a cumulative Impact Factor of 556-a clear testament to the rising quality and visibility of research conducted at PAF-IAST across multiple disciplines

On the national front, 26 projects were approved across diverse disciplines, backed by a total funding of PKR 34.14 million. These grants were sourced through a range of premier national agencies, signifying both the breadth and credibility of PAF-IAST’s research vision.

This diverse and growing funding portfolio speaks volumes about PAF-IAST’s fast-maturing research ecosystem. Far from being a peripheral activity, research at PAF-IAST is a driving force-integrated into curricula, powered by industry linkages, and designed to generate real-world solutions. These accomplishments stand as a testament to the institute’s strategic foresight, its faculty’s research caliber, and its commitment to building a self-reliant, innovation-led national economy.

[email protected]
0995-641350/0334-5958939
ORIC- Pak-Austria Fachhochschule: Institute of Applied Sciences & Technology, Khanpur Road, Mang, Haripur, KPK.