Islamabad January 12 2022: The Federal Cabinet approved “Science, Technology and Innovation Policy 2021”.
The Policy is aimed at accelerating Country’s transformation towards Knowledge based economy, Research and development, employment generation, encouraging innovation and benefiting the common man through Technology.
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Pakistan, since its independence, has formulated only two science and technology policies, i.e. National Science and Technology (S&T) Policy (1984) and National Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Policy (2012). Implementation of the National STI Policy 2012 is largely undocumented due to lack of appropriate implementation follow-up and monitoring mechanism.
The need for a new STI policy has emanated from the formulation of multiple sectoral policies since the last STI policy in 2012, country’s commitment to achieving SDGs, emergence of many disruptive technologies, re-established importance of STI for human wellbeing & survival due to Covid-19 pandemic, initiation of mega development projects i.e. CPEC, and changed socio-economic dynamics over the past decade.
The policy emphasizes the critical importance of evidence-based policy-making rather than opinion-based policy making, and explores ways and means to promote a culture of evidence-based policy making, one that is conceived, evaluated and implemented by the utilization of data & facts. The policy calls for mission approach for the establishment of a data center at the ministry-level as a repository of research findings and S&T statistical data to be utilized by policy makers, researchers, scientists, students, government agencies, industry, etc. The repository may prove a forerunner to mass utilization of artificial intelligence and machine learning for various purposes in future.
The policy realizes the importance of adequate compensation for scientific community and suggests measures to remove disparities in pays and allowances among scientists working in different organizations. It outlines measures for training & development of scientists & science and technology managers / leaders, performancebased career path & progression opportunities, reward & recognition system, retention of competent manpower and expedited hiring and promotion mechanisms.
Science and technology is a federal subject as per Fourth Schedule of the Constitution of Pakistan, however, it has not been mentioned in main body of the Constitution itself. To reassure that the state of Pakistan attaches great importance to science, technology and innovation for sustainable socio-economic development, the policy recommends to undertake adequate measures to make suitable amendment in the Constitution to reflect it in symbolism and substance.
The regular update in the knowledge and skills of human resource is a critical input for a fully functional STI ecosystem. The policy impresses upon enhanced production of top-quality human resource at all levels for the four major development challenges and in line with the international benchmarks. Stress is laid upon STEM education at primary, secondary and tertiary level with a focus to churn out “industryready” human resource. The policy outlines measures for producing skilled technology workers & executives for effective navigation of the country’s STI systems.
The policy attaches utmost importance to indigenous development of products by leveraging scientific knowledge. It expounds on various measures to strengthen country’s knowledge base, its applied research outputs, its Intellectual Property Rights regime, industry-academia linkages and most importantly its technology transfer mechanisms. The policy ensues formation of specialized & interdisciplinary research groups, promotion of collaborations & linkages and engagement of Pakistani diaspora emphasizing on real-world problems with focus on the developmental challenges.
The policy aims to inculcate and promote a culture of technology-based innovation and entrepreneurship among the universities and private sector by investing in research base of the country, imparting entrepreneurial education & trainings, establishing infrastructures such as incubation centers & technology parks, providing access to funding networks, offering tax-incentives and favourable regulations for the technology entrepreneurs.
The policy also envisages establishment & strengthening of national standardization, quality and accreditation systems to ensure conformance to internationally recognized infrastructures, i.e. the combination of initiatives, processes, quality control mechanisms, organizations and people that help ensure products and service meet the requirements of customers.
The policy employs mission based approach for adoption and exploitation of emerging & frontier technologies as they are seen as strong contributors to future economic growth and welfare of societies. Consistent monitoring of research funding is required to take account of the emergence of new scientific fields and to optimize ways to discover further new fields.
Training programs will be introduced at all educational levels for production of qualified skilled human resource in the identified emerging technologies. Support will be provided to startups and SMEs in priority emerging technologies. Emerging Technology Fund (ETF) shall be developed in the fields of AI, IoT, 3D printing, AR/VR, smart robotics, block-chain, biotechnology, intelligent vehicle, nanotech, materials science, big-data / data-mining, green technologies, space technologies, ICT, e-textiles, etc.
Cooperation with other countries in the area of science and technology not only raises a country’s level of scientific research but also it abilities and competence to uplift the socio-economic condition of its people. Science Diplomacy can be a useful instrument to reinforce and make better relations amongst nations by addressing common international issues and exchange of scientific & technological resources. The policy impresses upon the three common aspects and elements of science diplomacy along with their effective realization, i.e. Science in Diplomacy – Application of scientific knowledge and evidence to inform, support and achieve foreign policy objectives. Diplomacy for Science – Aiming diplomatic efforts and resources to facilitate international scientific and technical cooperation. Science for Diplomacy – Utilizing scientific cooperation as a source of soft power to strengthen or foster foreign relations.
Effective implementation of the policy shall be ensued through the development of various supervisory and monitoring mechanisms such as: A Steering Committee for policy implementation shall be formed under the chairmanship of Federal Minister for Science & Technology (MoST) for coordination & monitoring. A Policy Implementation & Monitoring Advisory Board shall be constituted for development of plans and programs, periodic evaluation of implementation progress and in devising and revising implementation strategies. The Advisory board shall serve as an expert advisory body to the steering committee.
A Policy Implementation Coordination Unit, adequately staffed with personnel having relevant experience, skills and aptitude, will be established to pursue implementation of the policy across various federal ministries and provincial departments working in different sectors.
