Islamabad – 19 July, 2016: The official inauguration ceremony for National Incubation Center was held at the National Information Technology Board (NITB) in the presence of H. E. Anusha Rahman Khan, Minister of State for Information Technology & Telecom, H.E. Houlin Zhao, Secretary General – International Telecommunications Union, Dr. Syed Ismail Shah, Chairman PTA/CEO, Ignite (Formerly National ICT R&D Fund) and Mr. Aamir Ibrahim, CEO – Mobilink.
The ceremony marked the inauguration of establishment of country’s largest tech facility funded by Ignite (Formerly National ICT R&D Fund) – Ministry of IT & Telecom, which shall house 40 startups per year.
Speaking on the occasion Minister of State for Information Technology, Ms. Anusha Rahman Khan shared her vision and passion for the incubation center. She shared her appreciation for the team of Ignite (Formerly National ICT R&D Fund) for realizing this truly spectacular model for innovation and economic growth in the digital age. She said this model will be replicated in other cities as well.
While addressing the audience H.E. Houlin Zhao, Secretary General – International Telecommunications Union expressed his gratitude for the excellent work that the Government of Pakistan is doing for creating an enabling environment and rapid growth of the IT and Telecom sector in the country. He also appreciated the efforts made in-line with the ITU’s theme for this year “ICT entrepreneurship for social impact”. National Incubation Center, he believed would create the necessary impetus in engaging small and medium sized enterprises in innovation and product development which has a lasting impression on the economy and progress of a country.
Earlier in his welcome address Dr. Syed Ismail Shah, Chairman PTA/CEO, Ignite (Formerly National ICT R&D Fund) dilated upon the purpose of National Incubation Center. He hoped that this first of a kind public-private partnership initiative in the ICT industry will yield wonderful results. He said that the incubator has been developed to further the Government’s vision of a digital Pakistan. This funded project of Ignite (Formerly National ICT R&D Fund) will be a first of its kind innovation hub to nurture and grow talent from across Pakistan. The program will bridge the gap between entrepreneurs, innovators and investors, while providing state-of-the-art incubation facilities and access to experts and advisors.
Mobilink will be operating this world-class incubator with its service delivery partner Teamup, bringing expertise of seasoned industry veterans who shall be leading the operations.
