Pakistan looks to Europe’s Horizon 2020
Pakistan’s science elite have called on the country’s researchers to better understand the needs of the research community and to look to Horizon 2020 for funding opportunities.
Addressing delegates at the 33rd ‘Pakistan Congress of Zoology (International)’ conference in Islamabad, Dr Sania Nishtar, the federal minister for science and technology, said it was vital to set science and technology research goals and for researchers to develop relationships with industry, citing Korea as a “successful example of making science and technology projects [happen]”.
Adding his thoughts, Professor Dr Manzoor Soomro, the chairman of the Pakistan Science Foundation, said it was important to invest in ‘quality science’ teaching when tackling the major challenges facing society today, urging delegates to focus on improving primary education standards. Soomro also encouraged researchers to recognise the new international funding opportunities becoming available, particularly Horizon 2020.
Pakistan secured the financial backing for only six projects under FP7, compared to 160 of regional rival India.
The three-day conference will see 1,500 scientists present their latest research work and discuss the problems concerning research in zoological sciences.
