HEC Task Force and SAU Agree to Promote Agri-Products and Startups through PPP
UrduPoint (24 September 2026) - The Higher Education Commission (HEC) Task Force on Offices of Research, Innovation, and Commercialization (ORICs) and Business Incubation Centres (BICs) has reached an agreement with Sindh Agriculture University (SAU), Tandojam, to foster the growth of agri-products and startups.
During a visit by former HEC chairman and Task Force convener, Prof Dr Javaid Laghari, to SAU, both parties discussed ways to:
- Encourage landholders and farmers to transition from conventional agriculture towards value-added farming, agro-industry, agricultural by-products, tourism, and export-oriented production.
- Promote agricultural products on commercial scales and support promising student-led startups through financial and institutional mechanisms.
- Strengthen public-private partnerships (PPP) and create stronger connections between university research, industry, markets, and export opportunities.
Key takeaways:
- Prof Dr Altaf Ali Siyal, SAU Vice Chancellor, emphasized the university's role in transforming agricultural research into practical solutions and marketable products.
- He proposed establishing an Industry Advisory Board to facilitate ongoing consultation with industry and align research with market demands.
- Prof Dr Laghari encouraged universities to support students and young researchers in turning their innovative ideas into startups, offering incubation, mentoring, and industry connections.
- The HEC Task Force will assist academia in providing financial and institutional support to successful startups and help promising ideas transition from incubation to commercialization.