Lahore, The Chairman of the Punjab Higher Education Commission, Prof Dr Shahid Munir, has emphasized the crucial role of applied research and partnerships with industries in generating alternative funding sources for universities. His remarks were made during a symposium on ‘Frontiers of Engineering Materials’ hosted by Punjab University’s Institute of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering and the Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC) on Wednesday.

According to University of The Punjab, the event saw participation from PU VC Prof Dr Khalid Mahmood, Dean of the Faculty of Chemical and Materials Engineering Prof Dr Abdullah Khan Durrani, Director of the Institute of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering Dr Mohsin Ali Raza, Director of ORIC Prof Dr Shakil Ahmed, Deputy Director Prof Dr Aqil Inam, alongside faculty members, researchers, industry experts, engineers, and a large number of students.

Dr Shahid Munir highlighted the enduring significance of materials and metallurgy research, predicting its relevance for at least the next fifty years. He pointed to innovations such as nano paper, developed by researchers from the Royal Institute of Technology, which boasts greater strength than steel and puncture-less tyres created by the American Defense University, as examples of the potential products from advanced materials research.

PU VC Prof Dr Khalid Mahmood discussed the revitalization of ORIC to promote a research culture and industry linkages within Punjab University, noting the global impact of the university’s chemical and metallurgy departments’ alumni. He encouraged students to leverage the symposium to gain insights from industry professionals.

Prof Dr Abdullah Khan Durrani and Prof Dr Mohsin Ali Raza spoke on the availability of facilities at Punjab University for industry collaboration and the potential for such partnerships to address industry challenges. The symposium was seen as a step towards enhancing the relationship between academia and the industrial sector.

Prof Dr Shakil Ahmed mentioned the symposium’s metallographic and poster competitions as opportunities for students to engage in learning, underscoring the university’s commitment to fostering a vibrant research culture.