ISLAMABAD: As many as 15 Information Technology Support Centres are being established in the country in collaboration with the World Intellectual Property Organisation aimed at carrying out research on patents and enhance their functionality.

This was stated by Executive Director Higher Education Commission Dr Arshad Ali. He was speaking on 5th HEC Outstanding Research Award Ceremony here at commission`s secretariat on Friday.

He said a steering committee would also be formed to examine the commercial and economic viability of research in the country.

`Pakistan has been blessed with talented youth that needs to be guided to become productive and solution providers for society,` the ED said and added that various measures are being takento identify and work on projects for uplift of the textile industry, dairy and livestock and other sectors through research in the areas.

Rana Tanveer Hussain, Federal Minister of Science and Technology attended the ceremony as chief guest while Chairman HEC Dr Mukhtar Ahmed was also present on the occasion along with a number of vice chancellors.

The awards were given in four categories including best research paper, best young research scholar, best innovator, and best book in eight disciplines including basic and applied sciences, biological sciences, pure engineering, computer science/ engineering, social sciences, management sciences, and arts and humanities.

Speaking on the occasion, Rana Tanveer Hussain said that education is the single means to ensure socio-economic development of a country, as it provides skilled human resource to thesociety.

Appreciating the contribution of the HEC to promotion of research culture in the country, he stressed the need for harmonizing research activities with the national needs.

`We have to focus on needbased research so that it could deliver to the society and its practical utility could benefit our economy.

Earlier, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed briefed the Minister on HEC initiatives to ensure quality of education and research.

He said that the HEC, while promoting a research culture in the country`s universities, is focusing on the relevance of research so that it could meet the national needs. Congratulating the award winners, the Chairman said, `Researchers need to shift their concentration from the impact factor to the impact of research on society so that their hard work could benefit humanity.