IGNITE National Technology Fund to Contribute to Pakistan Foresight Initiative
Strategic Partnership between AGAHI and IGNITE on
Futures Research and Development to cultivate the dynamics around the Fourth Industrial
Revolution.
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Islamabad,
August 23, 2017 – AGAHI
a not-for-profit organization and the country partner of the
Millennium-Project, a Global Futures Studies & Research participatory
think-tank, came into mutual agreement collaborating on foresight research and
development by signing a memorandum of understanding with IGNITE National
Technology Fund (formerly National ICT R&D
Fund Company) to spadework Pakistan’s future to lead the Fourth
Industrial revolution focusing on technologies and on the ecosystem of
development initiatives to fulfill its of fostering a knowledge economy in
Pakistan. In a statement, Ms. Ansha Rahman Khan, Minister of State for
Information Technology & Telecom said, ‘this is a critical partnership
which will position Pakistan globally in terms of research and development of
information communication technology sector in the country’.
The
mission of AGAHI is to advance the horizon of Pakistan’s future by establishing
Foresight Lab that would be responsible to generate and disseminate
cutting-edge knowledge for the benefit of students, of industry, of
policymakers, academia and of society. Yusuf Hussain, CEO Ignite said, AGAHI will
facilitate the team by identifying emerging trends, opportunities, in
developing skills and the curriculum; This strategic partnership will not only
strengthen the existing programmes but will also work towards increasing
awareness on the Fourth Industrial Revolution in Pakistan, one by creating a
taskforce on this significant transition and two by developing a National
Strategy paper on the Future of Work. The MoU signing ceremony was convened at
the premises of IGNITE in Islamabad. The strategic linkage between the two organizations
will provide opportunities to shape
institutional transformation and thought leaders to complement the traditional
department-based structures with trans-disciplinary knowledge capital, focused
on identifying societal challenges and their long-term solutions.
Speaking
on the occasion, co-founder Foresight Lab and Chairman, CEO Interactive Group
of Companies Dr. Shahid Mahmud stressed on "how in the age of consciousness
there is a dire need to develop a deeper sense of how the non-state actors in an
environment where the 4th wave is imminent will be shaping the
digital, biological and physical dimensions of futures research".
Pakistan
Foresight Initiative is designed to enable decision-makers to opt for data-driven
foresight approach in the policy domain. This Initiative is led by a
collaborative-network of academia, think tanks, experts and professionals along
with a wider community contributing to futures knowledge. Puruesh Chaudhary,
the Founder and President of AGAHI country partner of the Millennium Project said,
‘this partnership with Ignite reinforces our belief in a much promising future
of the country; where we’ll be encouraging not only our collaborative-network
but also the global community to harness a future that ensures the happiness of
the humanity’. Also present at the meeting, Ms. Farzana Yaqoob President Asia
Public Policy Institute; and member Policy Network of the Foresight Lab.
The collaboration will also further, amplify the engagement of
all relevant stakeholders in foresight activities to help promote broad social
debates and formation of futures research
programs pertinent to Pakistan’s Foresight initiative, leading to an improved understanding on the paradigm of Fourth Industrial
Revolution and how it will shape the futures discourse. AGAHI with its local
partners Interactive Group of Companies and Eikon7 along with other leading
academic institutions are creating a model that will have the ability to track
expected state of the future over time at national, provincial and district
levels – that will enable decision-makers to opt for the most informed policy
choice. Foresight Lab a facilitative platform engaging 20 different Pakistani
universities and think tanks on developing Pakistan State of Future Index
‘Anticipating 2027’, with an aim to improve the wellbeing of the people of
Pakistan.
Amir Jahangir,
CEO Mishal Pakistan, Partner Institute of the World Economic Forum explained
how different indicators from the work that the Forum does contribute to
systems and processes globally which enhances the ability of the
decision-makers in different countries; this influence is driven by intensely
accumulated data insights from over a 130 different nations, Pakistan needs to
leverage from such a powerful community in order to improve the quality of life
of the people in the country. The Fourth
Industrial Revolution, or 4IR, is the fourth major industrial era since the
initial Industrial Revolution of the 18th century. The Fourth
Industrial Revolution can be described as a range of new
technologies that are fusing the physical, digital and biological worlds, and
impacting all disciplines, economies and industries. Founder and Chairman of
the World Economic Forum, Prof. Klaus Schwab has associated it with
the "second machine age" in terms of the effects of
digitization and Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the economy, but added a
broader role for advances in biological technologies.
AGAHI is a not for profit organization established in Islamabad in 2011 under the Society Registration Act 1860. Its primary function is to create non-paid communication strategies, content intelligence structures, development collaterals and tools for diverse sectors and organizations. AGAHI encourages and advises individuals and institutions in pursuing and supporting initiatives to improve the state of development in Pakistan. It works on developmental frameworks facilitating information and knowledge sharing platforms on understanding challenges in global perspective. Its research work mainly focuses on national and international security, ICT, competitiveness, human security, and governance. AGAHI in association with several leading national and international partners focuses on creating shared spaces for interactive learning, collaborative thinking, and knowledge sharing. It is at the forefront of devising foresight research and future scenarios work in Pakistan. AGAHI works with highly motivated and qualified professionals who have substantial experience in learning and leadership development. |
