The University of Cambridge in the UK and Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU), Islamabad, have signed a historic memorandum of understanding (MoU) to promote collaboration in Materials Science and Emerging Technologies, a move aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s research capacity and international academic partnerships.
The agreement, signed in London, will support the launch of a Rs 3.5 billion joint initiative under the URAAN Pakistan PSDP to establish an Institute of Advanced Materials Sciences – the first ever collaboration of its kind between a Pakistani public university and Cambridge.
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, who was present at the ceremony, described the partnership as a “historic step towards building Pakistan’s knowledge economy.” He said the collaboration would connect Pakistani universities with international accelerators, venture funds and technology partners, strengthen academia-industry ties and promote the commercialization of research.
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The QAU-Cambridge partnership includes:
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$0.7 million for faculty and student exchanges, joint research programs, and technology transfer pathways.
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Focus on clean energy materials, composite materials for aviation, health technologies, digital innovation and advanced manufacturing.
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Commitment to launch the first exchange cohort, industry-backed demonstrators and a structured patent pipeline within 100 days, marking a leap towards an innovation-driven, globally competitive Pakistan.
At the same time, another MoU was signed between Cambridge Enterprise Ltd, UK, a subsidiary of Cambridge University, and the Pakistan Institute for Development Economics (PIDE), Islamabad, aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.
The partnerships reflect Pakistan’s efforts to strengthen research, innovation and technology commercialization while promoting international collaboration in cross-border scientific disciplines.
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Pakistan’s partnerships with institutions such as the University of Cambridge and Cambridge Enterprise Ltd come at a critical time when the country is struggling with stagnation in research, innovation and high-value industry.
Nadeem Javaid, vice-chancellor of PIDE, has highlighted that Pakistan risks being caught in the “middle income trap”, where growth stalls despite rising costs and ambitions outstripping capacity.
Initiatives such as joint research programmes, faculty exchanges and technology transfer pathways aim to break this cycle by building human capital, fostering innovation and connecting academia with industry in crucial steps towards transforming Pakistan’s knowledge economy and creating a globally competitive, innovation-driven future.
