Transcript comsats

COMSATS’ Experience of
Networking SMEs in Pakistan
Dr. Hameed A. Khan
Executive Director
COMSATS
COMSATS
Comission on Science and Technology for
Sustainable Development in the South
Brainchild of
Dr. Abdus
Salam
Legacy of his
Vision and his
Untiring
Efforts for
S&T
Commission on Science and Technology for
Sustainable Development in the South
Twenty-One countries are member from three continents: Asia,
Africa and Latin America. Following are some pro-active members of
COMSATS:
•Bangladesh
•China
•Colombia
•Egypt
•Ghana
•Jamaica
•Jordan
•Kazakhstan
•Nigeria
•Pakistan
•Philippines
•Senegal
•Sri Lanka
•Sudan
•Tanzania
•Tunisia
•Uganda
•Zimbabwe
Mission

Science & Technology Led Sustainable
Development (socio-economic) in the
South through South-South & NorthSouth Cooperation
Organizational Objectives
• Sensitizing the Countries of the South to:
–The Centrality of Science
–Allocate Resources for Research
–Integrate Science Policy with National and Regional plans
• Networking of International Science and Technology
Centers;
• Leadership and Support for Regional Cooperation
initiatives:
–Training
–Exchange of Scientists
–Scholarships
–Joint Research Projects
COMSATS Thrust Areas
Key Thrust Areas are:
• Agriculture Biotechnology
• Information Communication Technologies (ICTs)
• Natural Products
• Materials
• Climate Change and Environment Protection
• Mathematical Modelling
Network of Int’l S&T Centres of Excellence

The Biosphere Reserve – Beni, Biology Station (BBS), Bolivia

National Research Centre for Agrobiology, Brazil
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International Centre of Climate & Environmental Sciences (ICCES), China

Centro Internacional de Fisica Edificio, Colombia

National Research Centre (NRC), Egypt
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International Centre for Material Science and Technology (ICMST) , Ghana

Iranian Research Organization for Science and Technology (IROST), Iran
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International Centre for Environmental and Nuclear Sciences (ICENS), Jamaica
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Royal Scientific Society (RSS), Jordan
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National Mathematical Centre (NMC), Nigeria
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International Centre for Chemical & Biological Sciences (ICCBS), Pakistan
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Higher Institute for Applied Science and Technology (HIAST), Syria
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Tanzania Industrial Research and Development Organisation (TIRDO), Tanzania
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Marmara Research Centre (MRC), Turkey
Network Objectives

To develop and maintain critical Mass of World-class
Scientists and Technologists
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To develop indigenous capacities

Reduce brain-drain
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Transfer of technology among the members
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Regional Cooperation, in particular South-South
Cooperation

S&T Assessment and Management

Joint Ventures amongst Members
COMSATS
ACCREDITATION
BY UNITED NATIONS AS
AN INTER-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION
• COMSATS was accredited as an InterGovernmental Organization (IGO) with the United
Nations Protocol and Liaison Service.
• The international recognition came prior to the UN
World Summit on Sustainable Development
(WSSD), held from 26 August – 4 September,
2002, at Johannesburg, South Africa.
PROGRAMMES
• Network of International S&T Centres of Excellence in the South (14
Nodes)
• Short-term Training, Ph.D. Scholarship, Exchange of Scientists
• COMSATS Internet Services – 1996
• COMSATS IT Institute (CIIT) – 1998
– University Campuses:
Islamabad Campus, Lahore Campus, Wah Campus, Abbottabad
Campus and Attock Campus, COMSATS-COMSTECH-MTM IT
Centre Karachi
– COMSATS-COMSTECH-Syria IT Centre, Damascus
– COMSATS – COMSTECH – MTM IT Centre, Karachi
………Programmes
•
SMEs Development (China Expo - October 99)
•
•
Renewable Energy Programmes (UNESCO)
Publications (Science Vision (Since 1995), News &
Views
(2001); and a series of S&T books on specialised topics)
•
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French Online (Alliance Francaise)
Online Scientific and Technical Information
Centre
(HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, Karachi)
………Programmes
• Contractual Research
(Plant
Tissue
Culture
Technology – NARC)
• Tele-health Centre (Pak-MT-USA-Inc)
• COMSATS-CERN-High
Centre
• Bio-technology Portal
• ISESCO Web Portal
Energy
Computation
COMSATS established a biotechnology portal for the
Government of Pakistan: www.ncb.gov.pk
COMSATS established a Islamic World Science Net for
ISESCO, Morocco: www.icpsr.org.ma
NETWORKING SMEs IN PAKISTAN
COMSATS – UNIDO – SMEDA – SBFC
Collaboration for an
INDUSTRIAL INFORMATION NETWORK (IIN)
SMEs Role in Developing Economies:
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SMEs – 400,000
Leather and Textile Sector – 140,000
Major Job Opportunity Provider
SMEs are Earning Foreign Exchange (25%Export)
Contribute 18% to GDP
The Project: Industrial Information
Network (IIN)
• Largest source of Information Dissemination
• Biggest E-commerce portal in Pakistan (one
stop shop)
• Provide services in Urdu & English
• Specifically designed for SMEs
• Market Pakistani Products Worldwide
Issues Related to SMEs
•
Lack of Knowledge:
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International Standards
•
Technology update
International Market & •
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Business opportunity
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Entrepreneurship
•
Development
Financial Services
Training – HRD
Government Regulation
Export regulation
Taxation
Raw material
Marketing
NEED ASSESMENT (GALLOP)
Thematic Lines:
Industrial Sectors:
1. E-Readiness
•
Textile
2. Information Needs
•
Leather
3. Channels of Information
4. Expectations from Information Network
5. Usage Pattern of Credit Card
6. Share of Exports
Project Objectives
• To increase e-Readiness of SMEs
• To provide a virtual market place in order to promote
SMEs
• To provide a one-stop-shop to SMEs formal major
industrial sectors
• To help improve quality of products/services of SMEs
• To provide a platform to SMEs to reach new markets and
clients
• To provide information on latest technologies
• To offer distance-learning courses
• To increase inflows of SMEs investments
SERVICES OF IIN
• Information Services
-
Information to be available in Urdu & English
SME related rules, regulations, policies
Information on markets
Training & development
Sources of finance, raw material and new technologies
Investment opportunities
Access to technology
Access to Service Providers
Certification (ISO)/Quality Assurance
Online Trading
Trade leads and RFQ submission facility
Forms and Procedures related to regular business operations
Industrial cooperation activities
SERVICES OF IIN
• E-Commerce Services
- Biggest E-commerce portal in Pakistan
- SMEs be able to setup and run virtual shops with minimal
technical assistance
- Trading on raw material to finished goods
- E-Auctions facility
- Developed specifically with Pakistani market (SMEs) in
mind
- Virtual Marketplace
Target Beneficiaries
• Small and Medium Enterprises
- Local Manufacturers & Exporters
- Initially from leather and textile
- Later from all SME sectors
• Trade Associations
• Chamber of Commerce
• IT Infrastructure Providers
• Service Providers and Support Institutions for SME
sectors
Project Benefits
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Enhanced productivity and Value Addition
Improved Quality
Access to world markets:
- Increased business activity
- International trade
- Higher exports
Access to technology
Training
Increased inflow of investment
Low Inflation, employment and reduced level of poverty
COMSATS Contribution
• Software Development
• Technical plan
• Requirement analysis
• Design & development
• Testing & deployment
• Management & maintenance
• Web Hosting
• Website administration & management
• Co-Organizing Thematic Seminars
• Content Development, etc
COMSATS’ ROLE in IIN
• Technical in Nature as well as Coordination
• Our Strength remained to be our strong grip on
Information Technology
- Internet Service Provider (ISP)
- IT University (Education & Training)
- Software Development Unit
After the Successful Implementation of IIN Portal it was
handed over to Ministry of Industries, Govt. of Pakistan
Launching of IIN in Pakistan
• Industrial Information Network (IIN) – initiated
in 2001, formally launched in May 2002
• Inaugurated by D.G – UNIDO, Vienna
Snapshots of latest website by SMEDA
COMSATS Proposed Collaboration
With INSME (PDU)
• COMSATS would like to Join Forces with
INSME as its Partner for National /Regional
Development
• Common areas of activities may be coorganizing of thematic training programs/
seminars
• The prospective of collaboration are very
bright between COMSATS & INSME
• The step wise collaboration is expected to be
more fruitful and productive
Proposed Future Activities
Activity
Geographical
Coverage
COMSATS
Role
Thematic Training
Programs/ Seminar as
co-organizing
organization
Asia, Africa and
Middle East
As partner
Participation as Coorganizer/ Partner of
SME Innovation related
events at regional level
Asia, Africa and
Middle East
As partner
*As taken from INSME questionnaire
Proposed Themes
Theme
Sub-Themes
Region
COMSA
TS Role
Innovative
Clusters/Networks/
poles
Financing Opportunities
in Europe
Business Model for
Success
Asia, Africa and
Middle East
As partner
Hi-growth Innovative
SMEs
Exchange of Knowledge Asia, Africa and
Middle East
in International Fora
As partner
Technology Transfer
and Exploitation of
Research Results
Cross-border
collaboration
opportunities
Linkages with business
support networks
Europe, Asia, Africa
and Middle East
As partner
Intellectual Property
Rights / Intellectual
Intangible Assets
Europe, Asia, Africa
Management of IPRs
Raising IPR awareness and Middle East
in SMEs
Evaluation of IP
Exchange of Knowledge
in main Int'l Fora
As partner
*As taken from INSME questionnaire
Roadmap / Frame of work
• COMSATS in collaboration with INSME intends to
initially launch its programs in a few of its member
countries (like Bangladesh, Jordan, Tunisia or
China)
• COMSATS would follow the same strategic
approach it had pursued in Pakistan, i-e., to identify
the informational, organizational, policy and
regulatory needs of SMEs in a country, identify
clusters and map them, identify key players in a
state machinery and private parties and involve
them, and finally to undertake innovative means for
networking the SMEs (e-portal, B2B and B2C
virtual resources).
… Roadmap / Frame of work
• Conduct exploratory workshops and
seminars
• Mobilize national chambers of commerce
and trade associations and the SMEs.
Thank You!