Standing Committee on Science

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Briefing on Activities of Pakistan Science
Foundation
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PAKISTAN SCIENCE FOUNDATION
1- Constitution Avenue, G-5/2, Islamabad
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Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF)

• Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) was established
  in 1973 through an Act of the Parliament. It
  works under the administrative control of
  Ministry of Science Technology (MoST).
• Similar types of Foundations/organizations
  including US National Science Foundation, UK
  Foundation for ST, Indian Science Technology
  Department, Chinese National Natural Science
  Foundation and many more are working for
  promotion of Science and Technology all over the
  world.

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Main Objectives

• Promotion and funding of scientific research and
  related activities having bearing on
  socio-economic needs of the country.
• Popularization of science for the development of
  science culture in society.

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Policy Guidelines

• PSF takes guidelines from the following major
  documents/sources
• PSF Act 1973 by the Parliament.
• Directives from the Ministry of Science and
  Technology.
• Policy Documents of Government of Pakistan
  including National Science Technology and
  Innovation Policy 2012.

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Some Policy Actions

• To significantly enhance the research funding
  role
• of PSF in direct support of projects, which have
  
• been thoroughly vetted by experts and deemed to
  have significant effect on national economy.
  STI Policy 2012, P-9
• Strengthening PSF programs and
• Outreach for effective dissemination of
• information evoking public interest in science
  through, inter alia, science caravans and
• exhibitions. STI Policy 2012, P-23

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• Subsidiary organizations of PSF are
• Pakistan Scientific Technological Information
  Centre (PASTIC), Islamabad
• Pakistan Museum of Natural History (PMNH),
  Islamabad

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Organizational Chart
Ministry of Science Technology
Pakistan Science Foundation
Executive Committee
Chairman
Board of Trustees
Science Wing
Finance Wing
Admin Wing
Pakistan Museum of Natural History (PMNH)
Pakistan Scientific Technological Information
Centre (PASTIC)
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Statutory Functions

• (1) The Foundation functions as the financing
  agency for
• I. The promotion of basic and fundamental
  research in the universities other institutions
  on scientific problems relevant to the
  socio-economic development of the country
• Major Achievements
• Almost all Universities and RD organizations of
  the countries are undertaking a large number of
  scientific research projects funded by PSF.
• Brief of Research Projects (Province-wise)
• iii. Major ST disciplines funded by PSF are,
  Agriculture Sciences, Biological Sciences,
  Biotechnology, Chemical Sciences, Physics,
  Engineering, Medical Sciences, Environment, Earth
  Sciences and Computer Sciences.

Contd
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Prescribed Form
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Statutory Functions

• II. Establishment of comprehensive scientific and
  
• technological information and dissemination
  centres
• Major Achievements
• PASTIC National Centre, QAU, Islamabad
• Pakistan Museum of Natural History, Islamabad
• PSF Science Centres, Science Caravans, and PASTIC
  Sub Centres at
• i. Faisalabad ii. Lahore
• Karachi iv. Quetta
• Peshawar vi. Muzzafarabad (AJK)
• Sukkur viii. Tandojam
• Jaffarabad (Establishment of Science Centres in
• Gilgit-Baltistan is underway)

Contd
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Statutory Functions

• The utilization of the results of scientific and
  technological research including pilot plant
  studies to prove the technical and economic
  feasibility of processes found to be promising on
  a laboratory scale.
• Major Achievements
• i. PSF undertakes RD Projects in collaboration
  with Universities, Chamber of Commerce and
  Industries for proper utilization of the research
  findings. Brief of the some RD Projects .

Contd
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PSF Model for Industrial Research Projects

• Chambers
• Industry (Public/Private)
• Seminars/Workshops
• Institutions/Professionals

Identification of Project Concept
Initial Analysis
-Academia -RD Institutes
Identification of Researcher
Preparation of the Project
-Researcher/Scientist
Review
-PSF/Experts
Funding
-PSF/NSLP/Industry
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Statutory Functions
IV. the establishment of science centres,
science clubs, museums, herbaria and
planetaria V. the promotion of scientific
societies, associations and academies engaged in
spreading the cause of scientific knowledge in
general or in the pursuit of a specific
scientific discipline or technology in particular
Contd
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Statutory Functions
VI. the organizations of periodical science
conferences, symposia and seminars During
2013-14, PSF provided partial financial
assistance for 42 Science Conferences/Seminars
and training workshops. Detail of the conference.
VII. the exchange of visits of scientists and
technologists with other countries
Contd
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Statutory Functions
VIII. the grant of awards, prizes and
fellowships to individuals engaged in developing
processes, products and inventions of consequence
to the economy of the country PSF support
scientists, technologist, research scholars and
young students to develop invention-innovation
culture in the country. Invention-Innovation
Summit is organized in collaboration with
Universities and local Industries. During
2013-14, the Summit was inaugurated by Honorable
Mr. Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Planning
Development. The Summit provides a great forum to
the Inventors and Innovators to share their
products and procedure with the Industry. Prizes
are also awarded to the outstanding participants.

Contd
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Statutory Functions
IX. special scientific surveys not undertaken by
any other organization and collection of
scientific statistics related to the scientific
effort of the country PSF also provide funds to
the Scientists for any scientific survey required
for research study etc.
Contd
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Statutory Functions

• (2) the Foundation shall also -
• review the progress of scientific research
  sponsored by PSF and evaluate the results of such
  research
• Evaluation and Monitoring Procedure to review
• Review of progress reports by PSF Scientists
• Evaluation of progress reports by Subject Experts
• Assessment of progress reports by the Technical
  Committees
• On-Site monitoring of projects by Experts/PSF
  scientists

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Statutory Functions

• (2) the Foundation shall also -
• maintain a national register of highly qualified
  and talented scientists of Pakistan, including
  engineers and doctors
• PSF has the highly qualified and talented
  scientists as the Members of its Technical
  Committees.
• At present, there are more than 450 Scientists on
  PSF panel as subject experts or members of its
  technical committees.

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Statutory Functions

• (3) the Foundation shall also -
• Establish liaison with similar bodies in other
  countries.
• At present PSF is actively working for various
  collaborative projects and activities with a
  number of international organization including
  National Natural Science Foundation, China
  European Union Paris Academy of Sciences Centre
  Science, France Natural History Museum, Paris
  UNESCO, US Department of Agriculture, British
  Council, ECO, The Scientific and Technological
  Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK), Turkey and
  many others. Details

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Research Support Programme

• PAK-US NSLP Endowment Fund
• Natural Sciences with focus on Agriculture and
  Related Disciplines. PSF with support of US
  Department of agriculture is operating an
  Endowment fund for promotion of Agricultural
  Sciences. (Prescribed Form)
• Details of the NSLP funded Projects

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Achievements/Performance (2009 to 2014)

• Research Funding
• Research Support (Other Activities)
• Science Popularization Activities

Contd
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Network of PSF
PSF/PASTIC/PMNH (Head Offices)
Peshawar
Muzaffarabad
Islamabad
PASTIC Sub Centres (06)
Science Caravan Units (09)
D.I. Khan
Planned new locations of Science Caravan Units
Faisalabad
Quetta
Bahawalpur
Jaffarabad
Sukkur
Tando Jam
Karachi
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Summary Statement (Non-Development Budget)
(Rs. in Million)
Year Approved Expenditure Expenditure
Year Approved Statutory Admin
2009-10 109.000 45.400 63.600
2010-11 146.085 69.430 76.650
2011-12 153.000 55.000 95.000
2012-13 153.000 40.550 112.450
2013-14 149.271 23.929 125.342
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Utilization of Budget
Rs. In Million
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Budget Comparison with International similar
Organizations
Sr. No Organizations Year (US /Million/Annum)
1. Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF), Pakistan 2013-14 1.50
2. Science Technology Department, India 2012-13 478
3. The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK), Turkey 2010-11 1186
4. The National Natural Science Foundation of China (NNSF), China 2012-13 2800
5. US-National Science Foundation (US-NSF), USA 2013-14 7000
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Summary Statement (Development Budget-PSDP
Projects )
(Rs. in Million)
Year Approved Expenditure
2009-10 4.131 4.131
2010-11 1.120 1.120
2011-12 3.000 3.000
2012-13 4.500 4.500
2013-14 5.000 5.000
List of PSDP Projects
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Funds from International Collaborations
S. No Sponsoring Agency /Purpose Year Rs. Million
1. UNESCO MAB Program 2013-14 7.88
2. Pakistan National Commission for UNESCO (Strengthening of Science Centre) 2010-11 1.99
3. Embassy of France (Organizing Training Workshops for Teachers Traveling Expo ) 2011-12 1.47
4. Embassy of France (Organizing Training Workshops for Teachers and Traveling Expo, IBSE) 2012-13 2.99
5. UNESCO, Islamabad (Popularization of Science at Grassroots level) 2013-14 1.27
6. Embassy of France (Traveling Expo Training Workshop ) 2013-14 0.369
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Future Plans

• Strengthening of statutory functions (Project
  Funding/Science Popularization)
• Enhanced Coordination with Chambers of Commerce
  Industry for Applied Research Projects.
• Establishment of five science centers in
  Bahawalpur, Tandojam, Khairpur, Lasbela, Mansehra
  (under submission)
• Implementation of Inquiry Based Science Education
  (IBSE) in Pakistan
• Strengthening International Collaborations with
  TUBITAK, EU (Horizon 2020), UNESCO, TIKA.
• Declaration of New Biosphere Reserves under
  UNESCO-MAB Program
• Establishment of Pakistan Science Museum at
  Shakarparian Islamabad (allocation of land by CDA
  under process)
• Implementation of National STI Policy 2012
• Strengthening PSF programmes and outreaches
• Schemes for invoking interest in science at the
  very early age
• Motivational programmes for students to engage in
  creative activities

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Major Issues

• Shortage of Non-Development Budget for statutory
  functions
• (47 projects could not be funded during FY
  2011-12, 2012-13 2013-14 due to shortage of
  funds)
• Brain drain
• Ban on fresh recruitments
• Establishment of RD Industry Endowment Fund

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Some Pictorial Glimpses
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(No Transcript)