1st symposium agenda

First Pakistan - US Science & Technology Cooperation Program Symposium:

Economic Growth through Technology Transfer

January 31 - February 1, 2013

Islamabad, Pakistan

Objective: To introduce concepts of technology transfer and to foster new interactions between research projects and the private sector aimed at enhancing translation of research across these domains.

Sponsored by: The US Agency for International Development; The US Department of State; Higher Education Commission, Pakistan

Hosted by: National University of Science and Technology, Pakistan

Agenda Day One, January 31, 2013: Technology Transfer. This day will serve as a one-day primer on the theme of university-industry technology transfer. It will be open to a wide audience.

9:00 Recitation	Recitation of the Holy Quran
9:05 Opening Session	Welcome remarks by Member Operations and Planning of HEC: Dr. Nasser Ali Khan; USAID Mission: Director Johathan Conly; National University of Science and Technology (NUST): Pro Rector (P&R) Engr. Muhammad Shahid
9:40 Presentations	Two research projects, one from Pakistan and one from the US, will showcase their experience. Development of Guidlines for Asphalt Pavement Recycling in Pakistan: Dr. Gilbert Baladi and Dr. Syed Waqar Haider, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan; Dr. Tayyeb Akram, NUST, National Institute of Transportation Small Scale Sewage Treatment and Wastewater Reuse System for Pakistan: Dr. Rumana Riffat, George Washington University, Washington, DC; Dr. Safia Ahmed, Quaid-i-Azam University
10:45 Tea Break
11:00 University Roles in Technology Transfer	Dr. Don Gerhart, Challenger Biosciences (formerly of University of Oregon, North Carolina State University, and Duke University) will talk about how university technology transfer offices, incubators, and other stakeholders can join together to build collaborative "innovation ecosystems" that support regional economic development.
12:00 Lunch/Prayer Break	Keynote speaker - US Ambassador to Pakistan Richard G. Olson Importance of higher education and S&T to economic growth in Pakistan.
14:00 Short Presentations	15 minute introductions to research projects (showcase five research projects that will be the focus for the thematic groups in Day 2). Researchers from non-presenting projects will join in the thematic group sessions in Day 2. The Development, Optimization, and Application of a High-Performing Engineered Fertilizer: Dr. Syed H. Imam, Dr. Gregory Glenn, and Dr. Mark Jackson, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Western Regional Research Center, Albany, California; Dr. Farooq-e-Azam, Nuclear Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), Peshawar A Hybird Solar Water Heating System Using CO2 as Working Fluid: Dr. Sumathy Krishnan, North Dakota State University; North Dakota; Dr. Nasrullah Khan, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT) Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Using Integrated Secure Wireless Sensor and Vehicular Networks: Dr. Hafiz Malik, University of Michigan, Michigan; Dr. Muhammad Tahir, University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore Rapid Detection of Infection and Drug Resistance in Tuberculosis Patients by Multiplex Analysis: Dr. Imran Khan, University of California, Davis; Dr. Waheed Akhtar, Punjab University and Allama Iqbal Medical College Standardization and Quality Assurance of Medicinal Plants: Dr. Allan Showalter and Dr. Melanie Schori, Ohio University, Ohio; Dr. Zabta Khan Shinwari, Quaid-i-Azam University
15:30 Tea Break
16:00 Universities and Economic Growth	Mr. Imtiaz Rastgar to present on creating the ability for universities to stimulate economic growth and create a high technology nucleus within local technology and the trade ecosystem.
16:30 Entrepreneurship	Presentation on university partnerships, entrepreneurship, and innovation via teleconference by Ms. Rebecca Taylor.
17:00 ORIC and CLDP	HEC to present on Offices of Research Innovation & Commercialization (ORICs) and partnership with US Department of Commerce, Commercial Law and Development Program (CLDP) on university technology transfer in Pakistan. Presentation by Dr. Nasser Khan.
17:30 Final Session	Public session ends. Final session is open forum for program participants only for discussing their technology transfer experiences with the group. Facilitator: Dr. Katherine Himes and Dr. Franklin Carrero-Martinez.
18:15 Adjourn
18:30 Evening Event	Dinner at NUST arranged for program participants and invitees from private sector. Dr. Akram Chowdry, keynote dinner speaker will talk on the topic of the Pakistani diaspora's involvement in S&T technology transfer / private sector engagement - to provide lead-in to the Day 2 theme.

Agenda Day Two, February 1, 2013: Research & Private Sector Engagement. This day will focus on the research program participants and industry invitees. Sessions are broken up by theme so that participants can explore the potential for collaboration in more detail.

9:00 Recitation Recitation of the Holy Quran.
9:05 Welcome
Program sponsors discuss goals of the S&T program around tech transfer. A competition for seed grants (~$15K) will be announced. The grants will be available to participants who can identify an industry collaborator willing to work with them on technology transfer. Grants will be made available on competitive basis through submission of concept notes following the conference. Dr. Katherine Himes and Dr. Franklin-Carrero Martinez to facilitate.
9:30 Introduction
Moderator introduce the format of the day's events.
9:45 Thematic Elevator Pitches Research participants will be pre-divided into four thematic groups (water, agriculture, energy/engineering, biotechnology and health) and deliver five minute elevator pitches to private sector participants and technology transfer experts who will provide comments and critiques regarding commercialization of their respective projects. Dr. Don Gerhart, Dr. Akram Chowdry, Dr. Surya Raghu, Mr. Imtiaz Rastgar, and Ms. Rebecca Taylor to facilitate.
11:00 Intellectual Property
Plenary session to introduce the different forms of intellectual property (IP) - patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets - and ways universities can manage IP creatively and cost-effectively to advance research, education, and innovation-based economic development, led by Dr. Don Gerhart
12:00 Lunch/Prayer Break Networking lunch
14:30 Technology Transfer
Dr. Don Gerhart and Dr. Surya Raghu will talk about IP licensing and other transactional mechanisms that are frequently encountered in university-industry technology transfer and collaborative research agreements. Ms. Rebecca Taylor to join via teleconference.
15:15 Financing Innovation Plenary session on "Access to Finance", delivered by Dr. Don Gerhart and Dr. Akram Chowdry.
16:00 Invention to Market
Dr. Surya Raghu to provide an introduction to technology forecasting and opportunity assessment, evaluating the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of an invention for commercialization, understanding processes involved, and estimating time required to develop a product from an invention.
16:45 Tea Break
17:00 Seed Grants Program Sponsors discuss the new Seed Grants, as well as the way forward. Dr. Franklin Carrero-Martinez and Dr. Katherine Himes to speak.
17:30 Recognition Ceremony HEC and USG presentation to US and Pakistani scientists
18:00 Adjourn
18:15 Evening Event Dinner arranged for program participants and select guests at NUST. Keynote speaker: HEC Chairman Dr. Laghari.