ISLAMABAD: Experts at the concluding of a two-day online training course on “Inclusive Science Technology and Innovation policy for OIC Member States” said that only indigenous and cohesive policy nurtures innovation.
The training course was arranged by OIC Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH).
Coordinator General, COMSTECH, Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary delivered the inaugural address and introduced the plenary speaker of the event, Prof. Dr. STK Naim.
He said Dr. Naim is a great source of inspiration and is the best expert to talk about science and technology innovation policy.
She has a profound understanding of STI policy. She has a long experience of working in this field, and has been contributing in STI policy making in different countries.
Prof. Choudhary said, every country should have its own STI policy based on its ground realities, strengths and weaknesses.
A policy that has been tailored according to their own needs. One policy proven successful in one country cannot yield the same results in the other country because of many other indigenous factors.
Dr. Naim gave a talk on essential elements of innovation systems. She said, when the whole system works together, then innovation starts happening. Each country needs to develop an understanding of innovation and train their people to innovate.
She said we can provide guidelines and take international instances for learning, that is all a policy adviser can do for a country. Policy making has to be indigenous, encompassing all stakeholders – policy makers, scientists, politicians, and private sector.
She said, private sector is a major player in the innovation sector. We all know that innovation works in a cohesive and coherent system, and all STI policies are intertwined. All the players in the innovation system work like an orchestra. The innovation system only works when all elements work together.
This two-day training was delivered by national and international experts and more than 50 experts or policy makers from different institutions of OIC member states participated in this training course online.