Pakistan Innovation Forum 2015 | Make In Pakistan
The winners for the National Innovation Awards, being held for the first time by Pakistan Innovation Foundation, have been announced in an event at Serena Hotel, Islamabad.
Just last month, Pakistan Innovation Foundation(PIF) announced its plans to introduce National Innovation Awards in Pakistan as a part of its yearly conference event, the Pakistan Innovation Forum 2015. Today, the winners of the 12 categories of innovators, startups and universities have been announced.
Promoting a motto of “Make In Pakistan”, this event was geared at promoting innovation in Pakistan and giving birth to a culture of home-grown products and provide a platform to bring forward new innovators and startups.
Speaking at the event, the Chairman of Pakistan Innovation Foundation, Saad Amanullah Khan said:
“One of the three main streams of our work is about recognizing and rewarding Pakistani Innovators. We often feel there is no innovation in Pakistan and that is not correct. There are many exemplary things that happened in Pakistan from Orangi Pilot Project, to Easypaisa, and the like and we must recognize those innovators so that the hands of others are strengthened. As Pakistan’s leading and only champion of Innovation, the National Innovation Awards is a way for PIF to do that.”
Later, the Winners of the National Innovation Awards were announced across 12 general categories and 3 special categories. Syed Babar Ali, a Pakistani businessman, philanthropist, former Finance Minister of Pakistan and the founder of Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) was presented the Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions and lifelong service to education, philanthropy, and the society at large. Habab Idrees, the first Pakistani to receive dual honor at Intel ISEF 2015. – was awarded Special Young Innovative Talent Award. Other winners included EasyPaisa, Qarshi Industries, School of Visual and Practical (SOVAP), NADRA, Packages, ProCheck, NIBGE, LUMS, The Second Floor (T2F), Pink Rickshaw, Coke Studio and SoloInsight.
THE WINNERS OF THE NATIONAL INNOVATION AWARDS 2015 are:
- Corporate Innovation: Qarshi Industries
- Education Innovation: School of Visuals and Practicals (SOVAP) by IBA Sukkur.
- Health Innovation: ProCheck
- Government Innovation: NADRA
- Agri+Rural: National Institute for Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering – NIBGE
- Most Innovative University or Programme: Lahore University of Management Sciences, School of Science and Engineering (LUMS).
- Finance/Fintech Innovation: EasyPaisa
- Industrial Innovation: Packages
- Social/Development Innovation: Pink Rickshaw
- Civic Innovation: The Second Floor(T2F)
- Art+Design Innovation: Coke Studio
- Most Innovative Technology Startup: SoloInsight
The Three Special Awards went to:
People’s Choice Innovator of the Year Award: CricFlex, a wearable band to determine if a bowling action is legal or not.
Special Award for Young Innovative Talent: Habab Idrees, the first Pakistani to receive dual honor at Intel ISEF 2015
Special Lifetime Achievement Award for Innovation: Syed Babar Ali, a Pakistani businessman, philanthropist, former Finance Minister of Pakistan and the founder of Lahore University of Management Sciences(LUMS).
Updated: 9 December, 2015