Prof. Dr. Sumaira Rehman,
Rector, The Superior University, Lahore
09 December, 2023
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Pakistan’s 88th position in the Global Innovation Index (GII) of 2023, is a cause of optimism and despair for many at the same time owing to the comparative improvement with respect to historic country performance and overall low standing respectively. The GII is an overarching framework that assesses the ecosystem of innovation at country level and provides comparative insights across regions and income categories. Thus, capacities and capabilities of each country can be contextualized and better understood for developing a roadmap of strengthening the innovation ecosystem.
Innovation is most commonly categorized as a function as well as an outcome of research and invariable operationalization of learnings aimed at optimization of business processes. In multiple scenarios leading to innovation or cultivation of practices delivering innovation through well thought out mechanics;
the constituent factors governing innovation include relevant research & development, appetite of the industry, facilitation of innovation / technology transfer, supportive regulatory conditions, and evolving market dynamics. The case of Pakistan with respect to innovation and its larger ecosystem is a peculiar one as it exhibits small islands of success in fragmented sectors. Majority of the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) of the country, with their weak industry-academia linkages, struggle to successfully navigate the national needs of innovation and fall short of meeting the demands of knowledge-based economy. Moreover, Intellectual Property (IP) regime remains very weak owing to lack of enforcement of IP laws and low fulfilment of contractual obligations among multiple stakeholders. State of the industry with its segmented layers bearing varying levels of openness to innovation and market challenges are other critical factors behind holding back the growth of a vibrant innovation ecosystem.
The dynamics of market juxtaposed with the work culture of academia reveal an inordinate mismatch of expectations and capacity to deliver. Despite some success stories from both public and private sector universities in this regard, the larger ecosystem of innovation whereby HEIs, R&D organizations, industry, and communities function in tandem remains weak in the country. Creation of the Offices of Research, Innovation and Commercialization (ORICs) by HEC was certainly a step in the right direction. However, mechanism yet need to be chalked out to measure the contribution of ORICs, and HEIs, towards developing a knowledge-based economy in the country. Likewise, innovation is yet to be recognized as a driver of economic growth for a developing country like ours and steps at the national level ought to be taken for devising a clear roadmap with the consultation of stakeholders.
In my considered opinion, it is high time for the stakeholders of the innovation ecosystem to come forward and strengthen the innovation ecosystem. Triple-helix model of stakeholder engagement within the framework of a favourable regulatory regime and conducive economic environment can steer Pakistan forward. Fortunately, the national and provincial planning documents provide necessary policy space for improving upon existing approaches towards development. It is up to the stakeholders to make use of the policy space and create new pathways of socio-economic development guided and led by innovation.
