OIC states urged to invest 1% of GDP in research and science

• Experts said Muslim World are required to create technology parks.
• Prof Iqbal Ch said, science is like a one language.
• He was speaking in the concluding session of the IAS.

KARACHI: The 24th Conference of the Islamic World Academy of Sciences (IAS), has urged the OIC member states to invest at least One Percent of their GDP in research in science, technology and innovation (STI) for socio-economic development.

The expert-participants have called on OIC member states for the inclusion of enquiry-based education to enhance creativity, curiosity and problem solving for building-capacity in STI and enriching human resources.

They were speaking in the concluding session of the 24th Conference of the IAS on “Challenges to Promote Science & Technology for Socio-Economic Development in OIC Countries” held at the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi on Wednesday.

Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, Director of the ICCBS, and COMSTECH Coordinator-General, and IAS President Prof. Adnan Badran (Jordan), addressed the concluding session.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Iqbal Choudhary pointed out that there was a dire need to bridge the gap between the academia and industry in the OIC member states for joint R&D leading to socio-economic development.

Countries in the Muslim World are required to create technology parks and incubators to commercialize the delivery of research and innovations into start-up SMEs and enhance diversification of new materials and quality control, he said.

Prof. Iqbal Choudhary said, “Science is like a ‘one language’ which unites the whole humanity”.

Through science and technology nations can bridge the gap, and engage themselves in a productive and useful dialogue for common human values, he said.

He also informed the participants about various programs and initiatives of COMSTECH, which included the largest research fellowships program in the OIC region.

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