Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said. Governments provide incentives to address market failures and agile regulation that balances risk with innovation.The new surge of innovation is the fourth industrial wave, where creativity and innovation are at a premium. Startups are the building blocks of the knowledge economy, Innovation is the prime determinant of the rise and fall of societies, he was the chief guest at the award ceremony he congratulated and commended the winners of the NGIRI Championship and said that winning was important but the journey did not stop here. “Winning students must take their prototypes to next level and those who could not make this time should improve upon their ideas and prototypes,” he said. The federal minister also congratulated ‘IGNITE’ for holding this event. Other dignitaries at the event included Amir Azeem Bajwa Chairman (PTA) and Yusuf Hussain (CEO Ignite- National technology funds).

Usman Institute of Technology (UIT) affiliated with NED University of Engineering & Technology, Karachi, is proud to announce that UIT students won a cash prize of Rs 400,000 which was awarded to first position holder from UIT, for their project, White Coal Machine. Second position was won by the University of Management of Technology, Lahore, with cash prize of Rs 300,000 for project, Control & Operation of Micro-Grid, whereas the third position with cash prize of Rs 200,000 was won by the GIKI for the project, Crypto Currency Predictor.    

Amir Azeem Bajwa Chairman (PTA): “it is heartening to note that Pakistani students are participating in programs which aim to assist final year undergraduate students of ICT related disciplines studying in the Institutions by providing them financial assistance for developing prototypes / working models of their Final Year Projects (FYP) in order to increase creativity, innovation and hands on engineering and development skills”.

Must Read: Easypaisa & Zong 4G Join Hands to Provide Direct Integration for a Superior Omni Channel Experience

Yusuf Hussain(CEO Ignite- National technology funds) said: “Ignite funds startups and innovative projects that utilize 4th industrial wave tech to solve local problems and target global opportunities in health, education, energy, agriculture, telecom, finance and other verticals. We have launched a program to prepare one million people for the future of work. Ignite outreach activities seek to inform professionals, media, students, corporations, media and policy makers about the challenges and threats posed by the new economy and the importance of innovation and seek to increase engagement in Ignite programs”.

Director UIT Dr. Zahir Ali Syed stated that – “On behalf of UIT, we congratulate the winners and participants and wish them well in all their future endeavors. Ignite funds startups and innovative projects that utilize 4th industrial wave tech to solve local problems and target global opportunities in health, education, energy, agriculture, telecom, finance and other verticals. UIT is proud to have participated in the NGIRI awards and working with Ignites network of incubators across Pakistan which helps to nurture startups and engages them with investors and corporations. The program prepares a million people for the future of work. Through studies and stakeholder engagement, Ignite helps planning in the public and private sectors. UIT looks to work with organizations that have outreach activities and seek to inform professionals, students, corporations, media and policy.”