ICCBS inks MoU with Momentum Technology Conference

International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi (UoK), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Momentum Tech Conference with an idea of strengthening startup eco-system in Pakistan.

The aim of the agreement is to connect Pakistani entrepreneurs from all around the world who work on innovative disruptive technologies to create the knowledge economy that has the potential to help drive Pakistan’s growth over the decade. Momentum Tech Conference is a leading startup technology conference and exhibition.

According to the agreement, the momentum will give space to ICCBS Startups in Momentum’s 2018 (a conference & exhibition). ICCBS based startups will have access to momentum’s network of mentors, which will include prominent CEOs, industry experts and startup founders.  

The MoU was signed in a meeting held at the Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drugs Research (PCMD), University of Karachi last week. Director ICCBS-UoK Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary and Chief Executive Officer Momentum Syed Amir Jafari signed the MoU on behalf of their institutions. On the occasion, Hamza Awan, Head of Marketing, Ms Anum Shakeel, Project Manager, Muhammad Faizan Shoaib, Assistant Communication Manager, Momentum Tech Conference, and officials from ICCBS including Dr Hina Siddiqui and Syed Azfar Hussain Manager Technology Incubator & Industrial Park were also present.

Prof. Iqbal Choudhary stressed the need for building academia industry linkages. He also emphasised the need for technology entrepreneurship in Pakistan and its vital role in the uplift of economy. He also shared the success stories of technology startups and research based entrepreneurship and how they benefited companies at micro level and countries as a whole at the macroeconomic level

He said that the momentum entered in an official status as incubation partner to ICCBS. He added that the momentum will also offer discounted services and grants for the startups from its partnering companies. He maintained that the startups, research students, and faculty at the incubators will benefit from the network of so many organizations at one platform.

Amir Jafari said that Momentum Tech Conference is a leading startup technology conference whose first edition was held in February 2017. He said that the upcoming event will be held in early 2018. Momentum gathers investors, business leaders, technology executives, speakers and academia who take the stage to share their stories in chats and keynotes, he adds.