PEC Seed Funding Phase -1 Award Distribution Ceremony organized by PEC Innovation & Entrepreneurship Committee (ICE)
Tuesday, August 20, 2024
Many Graduate Engineers have innovative and commercially viable solutions for the challenges faced by Pakistan, resulting in entrepreneurship opportunities and job creation. However, due to lack of a focused platform for engineering startups, they are unable to flourish as independent entrepreneurs. The Innovation & Entrepreneurship Committee (ICE) lead by Engr Dr Samreen Hussain, Member Governing Body of Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) in pursuit of its continued efforts for promoting opportunities for innovation and indigenization, launched a Seed Funding Project through the Pakistan Innovation & Entrepreneurship Development Centre (PIEDC) of PEC being lead Engr. Dr. Amer Sohail Kashif for engineering startups to convert their ideas and products into marketable, commercial solutions.
Phase-1 was launched with thematic areas of Agri-tech and Smart-tech in line with the vision of Government of Pakistan. The top 10 startups were awarded a Seed Funding of PKR 1 million each as interest free loan. The selection of startups was held in 2 rounds in which a total of 153 startups applied out of which 15 startups were selected for awards. The ceremony was held on 5 June 2024 in Islamabad to commemorate the initiative and for distribution of awards among the 10 winners and 5 runner ups.
Honourable Federal Minister for Science & Technology (MoST), Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui graced the event as Chief Guest, Maj Gen Shahid Nazir, DG Special Project Land Information Management System (LIMS) of SIFC graced the event as Guest of Honor.
Maj Gen Shahid Nazir applauded the efforts of PEC under the visionary leadership of Chairman PEC, Engr Muhammad Najeeb Haroon and PEC Innovation & Entrepreneurship Committee for taking this monumental initiative. He also offered SIFC’s support to nurture the startups particularly related to Agri-tech.
Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Federal Minister for Science & Technology congratulated Chairman PEC & Senior Management, assuring the Ministry’s full support in initiatives aimed to uplift engineering community in Pakistan. He highlighted Pakistan’s fortune to have a large youth population which if equipped with adequate knowledge, education, and international certifications can reshape the country’s destiny.
He also emphasized the role of the overseas diaspora in strengthening the country’s economy. He urged to revitalize the engineering education system to produce entrepreneurs and job creators.
Engr Muhammad Najeeb Haroon, Chairman PEC, Engr Dr Samreen Hussain, Convener PEC ICE and Engr Dr Nasir Mehmood Khan, Registrar PEC encouraged the young engineers to strive for excellence and assured them continued support from PEC. They also announced that Phase-2 of Seed Funding Project will be launched shortly with a view to revive sick industries.
A showcase was also setup for the dignitaries where the winners and runners-up displayed their products. The Chief Guest and Guest of Honor interacted with the startups and appreciated their projects.
The ceremony was also attended by dignitaries from Federal Government, Members from PEC Governing Body & Senior Management, Industries, Venture Capitalists, Funding Agencies, and Academia.