Author: Haris

Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization hosted a meeting of Principal Investigators (PIs) of the Punjab Higher Education Commission’s (PHEC) flagship Research and Development Cluster on Minerals and Rare Earth Metals on 28 January 2026 at UCP. Led by Prof. Dr. Muhammad Akhyar Farrukh, Head of the Department of Basic and Applied Chemistry, UCP, and Principal Investigator of the cluster, the meeting brought together Co-Principal Investigators from leading institutions, including Dr. Tahir Ahmad from the University of the Punjab and Dr. Muhammad Shahzad from UET Lahore. The discussion focused on strategic budget planning, development of a comprehensive research roadmap, and the implementation framework, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration, institutional coordination, and efficient resource utilization. The meeting marked a key step toward operationalizing this provincial flagship initiative.

Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization hosted Dr. Michael Arretz, Managing Director of the German Importers Association, and Mr. Sarim Mehmood, CEO of Fruit of Sustainability, for an interactive meeting with UCP Pro-Rector Dr. Hammad Naveed to explore collaboration opportunities, strengthen international market linkages, and enhance UCP’s engagement with global industry partners, particularly in sustainability, wastewater treatment, and export potential. During the session, Director ORIC Prof. Dr. Muhammad Akhyar Farrukh presented UCP’s key innovation initiatives, including the wastewater treatment project, fly ash bricks, and industry-ready prototypes from the food, pharmaceutical, and engineering sectors, which were highly appreciated for their commercialization potential. The delegation also toured UCP’s major research and innovation facilities, including the Wastewater Treatment Plant, Engineering Lab, COFIC, and Takhleeq, with participation from the Dean FOST, Director Innovation, faculty members, and the ORIC team.

Office of Research, Innovation, and Commercialization’s meeting with the International Water Management Institute focuses on advancing UCP’s initiative to develop an indigenous soil moisture sensor. The session is chaired by Prof. Dr. Muhammad Akhyar Farrukh, Director ORIC, and includes a detailed presentation by Dr. Sarfraz Munir, Senior Regional Researcher at IWMI. He outlines traditional irrigation water monitoring methods and explains the working principles and efficiency of the Chameleon soil moisture sensor, encouraging in-house development to reduce reliance on imported devices. The meeting is attended by Dr. Fesal Toosy, Dr. Ali Ahmad, Mr. Jaleel Asghar Mirza, Dr. Rabia Tehseen, and Dr. Faiza Anum. Faculty members and researchers discuss opportunities for collaborative research focused on advancing water-efficient agricultural solutions.

Office of Research, Innovation, and Commercialization organized an industry meeting with the Creative Group of Companies to finalize joint projects and initiate field trials in key areas of mutual interest. The collaborative discussions focused on the research and development domains of Biofertilizer Quality, Cost Control, Multiple Gas Absorber System and Gas Storage. The meeting was graced by Mian Sultan Mahmood, CEO Creative Group of Companies, along with his professional team, and Prof. Dr. Muhammad Akhyar Farrukh, Director ORIC, accompanied by faculty members from the Department of Basic and Applied Chemistry. The session was effectively coordinated by Dr. Muhammad Perviaz.