National Incubation Center Backs Hult Prize Pakistan Challenge 2017
Hult Prize is a global startup accelerator that awards emerging that awards emerging social entrepreneurs encouraging the world brightest business minds to solve the planets biggest challenges with innovative ideas for sustainable start-up enterprises.
Annual Hult Prize winners can make their ideas reality with the help of a generous seed funding which goes to the winner. It is the largest student competition named as one of the top five ideas changing the world by former US President Bill Clinton and TIME Magazine.
National Incubation Center, Islamabad proudly sponsored and hosted the Hult Prize Pakistan Challenge 2017 on 4th and 5th January, 2017. The theme for this years challenge was Reawakening Human Potential 25 teams representing different colleges and universities from across Pakistan pitched their ideas in front of an esteemed panel of judges.
Top 6 teams were selected on Day 1. These shortlisted teams then pitched their ideas again on Day 2, where team EME from EME College, NUST Islamabad was declared as the winner. Team EME has been selected for incubation at NIC, where they will benefit from the resources and mentorship opportunities that NIC brings to the table.
On the occasion, Yusuf Hussain – CEO National ICT R&D commented,
“It is heartwarming to be here to witness all this activity. I have recently joined the Ignite (Formerly National ICT R&D Fund), and I have no doubt that the best part of my job is to meet with young and smart people who want to change the world we live in”.
Engr. Baligh-ur-Rehman, Minister of State for Federal Education and Professional Training was the chief guest. Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman HEC, Dr. Syed Ismail Shah, Chairman, CEO Ignite (Formerly National ICT R&D Fund) and Chairman PTA, Dr. Arshad Ali, Executive Director HEC, Vice Chancellors, start-ups, entrepreneurs, incubators and people from different walks of life were also present.
Speaking on the occasion, Engr. Baligh-ur-Rehman, Minister of State for Federal Education and Professional Training, reiterated the Government’s resolve to encourage youth to come forward and play their part in not only betterment of their own lives but also the country’s economy through their contributions to growing and emerging market. He said that Government considers them a real asset that could guarantee a bright future.
A large number of intellectuals, VCs of universities, students and volunteers participated in the event. The speakers, Dr. Shahid Qureshi from IBA Karachi, Dr. Sarfraz Mian from the School of Business, State University of New York, United States, Dr. Faizullah Abbasi, Vice Chancellor Dawood University, Professor Amin Khan VC BUET, Khuzdar, Dr. Iftikhar Hussain, VC UET, Peshawar expressed their views on the various topics of the symposium
