ORIC – Interdisciplinary Research Group Meeting

Exploring the future of intelligent vision-based robotics and sustainable technologies at the UCP ORIC Interdisciplinary Research Group Meeting. Dr. Sadaf Zeeshan, from faculty of Engineering, presented an interdisciplinary research project on intelligent vision based robotic systems for efficient and sustainable harvesting, followed by an engaging discussion with faculty members and students. The event concluded with closing remarks by Prof. Dr. Muhammad Akhyar Farrukh, Director ORIC, emphasizing the value of interdisciplinary research and collaboration at UCP. The session was highly productive and provided valuable insights into potential avenues for future interdepartmental project collaborations.

ORIC-UCP Successfully Conducted Hands-On Perfume & Scent Making Workshop

The Office of Research, Innovation & Commercialization (ORIC), University of Central Punjab, successfully organized a Hands-On Perfume & Scent Making Workshop on 14 January, 2026 at the Biochemistry Lab, B-Building, UCP.

The workshop aimed to equip participants with practical skills in fragrance formulation along with essential knowledge of branding, marketing, and commercialization. The session received enthusiastic participation from students, young researchers, and aspiring entrepreneurs, reflecting strong interest in innovation-driven business opportunities.

The training was conducted by:

  • Mr. Muhammad Irfan, CEO – IrfanScienceWala (Pvt.) Ltd.
  • Mr. Tauqeer Hussain, Head, Cosmetics Section – IrfanScienceWala (Pvt.) Ltd.
  • Dr. Muhammad Riaz, Associate Professor, Faculty of Science & Technology (FOST-UCP)

Participants received hands-on exposure to:

  • Fundamentals of perfume and scent formulation
  • Understanding top, middle, and base notes
  • Ingredient selection and safe handling
  • Professional perfume blending techniques
  • Product development for market readiness
  • Branding, pricing, marketing, and commercialization strategies

The session concluded with a Certificate Distribution Ceremony, where certificates were distributed by the Director ORIC, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Akhyar Farrukh, who appreciated the participants’ enthusiasm and emphasized ORIC-UCP’s continued commitment to fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and industry-linked capacity-building initiatives.

The workshop was successfully coordinated and managed by Ms. Nagina Rafiq Research Associate, ORIC-UCP

ORIC-UCP remains dedicated to empowering students and professionals through impactful trainings and collaborative platforms.

ORIC’s International Seminar on Smog Pollution in Lahore

The Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC) and the Faculty of Science and Technology (FOST) successfully organized a seminar titled “Smog Pollution in Lahore: Causes, Consequences, and Control (From Sampling to Solutions)” on 15 January, 2026, at University of Central Punjab, Lahore.

The guest speaker, Dr. Haider A. Khwaja, an Associate Professor at Department of Environmental Health Sciences from the University at Albany, USA, shared expert insights into the environmental challenges of smog. The discussion moved from scientific sampling to practical solutions, highlighting the university’s commitment to addressing local environmental issues under the joint project started in 2023 between University at Albany, USA and UCP, Lahore. Prof. Dr. Muhammad Akhyar Farrukh and Dr. Haider A. Khwaja are principal investigators of the joint project.

The session was honored by the presence of the Pro-Rector, Dr. Hammad Naveed, who graced the event along with Prof. Dr. Hafiza Rizwana Kausar (Dean, FOST), Prof. Dr. Muhammad Akhyar Farrukh (Director ORIC), Representative from EPA, HODs, Faculty Members and Students. Dr. Hammad Naveed provided the closing remarks for the session. The seminar received an overwhelming response with around 145 registered participants, leading to a house-full venue.

ORIC’s Interdisciplinary Research Group Meeting

Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization organized an Interdisciplinary Research Group Meeting for faculty members to promote collaborative research across Sciences & Engineering and Social Sciences & Humanities. The meeting was attended by Pro Rector Dr. Hammad Naveed, Dean FHSS Prof. Dr. Khalid Manzoor Butt, Dean FOE Dr. Muhammad Rizwan Shad, and was led by Prof. Dr. Muhammad Akhyar Farrukh, Director ORIC, who emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary and international research in addressing contemporary societal challenges. The session featured presentations by international speakers Dr. Stefan Poslad from Queen Mary University of London and Dr. Fesal Toosy, who shared insights on multidisciplinary research in education. Faculty members from Humanities, Social Sciences, Languages, and Literature actively participated in discussions, followed by an interactive Q&A session.

ORIC’s Strategic Meeting with Energy Efficient Electrical Systems (E3S) Interdisciplinary Research Group

The Office of Research, Innovation & Commercialization, organized a strategic meeting of the E3S–FOE Interdisciplinary Research Group, aimed at strengthening collaborative research and advancing commercialization pathways. The session, led by Dr. Hammad Naveed and Prof. Dr. Muhammad Akhyar Farrukh, highlighted strategies to translate research outcomes into societal and industrial impact. Dr. Ali Ahmad (Group Leader) and his team presented the group’s objectives.

ORIC x ABGI–FOST Interdisciplinary Research Group Meeting

Office of Research, Innovation & Commercialization organized a strategic meeting with the Applied Biosciences & Green Innovation – FOST Interdisciplinary Research Group. The session, led by Dr. Hammad Naveed (Pro-Rector) and Prof. Dr. Akhyar Farrukh (Director, ORIC), focused on strengthening collaborative research and exploring pathways for commercialization. Dr. Fawad Baig and other research members participated, while research teams from Prof. Dr. Muhammad Naveed and Dr. Khanza Aziz Awan presented their ongoing projects.

ORIC-UCP Conducts Workshop on Patents, and Research Commercialization

The Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC) at the University of Central Punjab organized a comprehensive workshop on “Innovation, Patents, and Research Commercialization” on August 6, 2025. The session was led by Prof. Dr. Muhammad Akhyar Farrukh with the objective of strengthening faculty capacity in intellectual property management and promoting applied research outcomes.

The workshop provided an in-depth overview of intellectual property rights, including the types of IP, national and international patent filing procedures, and commercialization pathways for academic research. Participants were also guided through the standards and guidelines of IPO Pakistan and United States Patent and Trademark Office, gaining practical insights into what constitutes patentable innovation and how to effectively draft and structure patent applications.

A key focus of the session was the patent prosecution process, including strategies for responding to objections and improving the chances of successful patent approval. Faculty members also engaged in interactive discussions on transforming research outputs into market-ready solutions and institutional consultancy opportunities.

To enhance practical understanding, live demonstrations were conducted using online platforms such as the USPTO Patent Center and the IPO Pakistan e-journal, allowing participants to explore patent tracking systems and access published patent applications in real time.

The workshop concluded with a strong emphasis on bridging the gap between academia and industry by converting research into commercial products and services. It reinforced ORIC-UCP’s commitment to fostering innovation, supporting intellectual property development, and promoting a sustainable culture of research commercialization and knowledge transfer within the university.

ORIC-UCP Conducts Workshop on Research Proposal & Grants

The University of Central Punjab successfully conducted the sixth session of its ongoing MS/MPhil/PhD Supervision Course – Cohort 3 on August 5, 2025, as part of its continuous commitment to strengthening research supervision in alignment with the Higher Education Commission Graduate Education Policy (GEP) 2023.

The session was led by Prof. Dr. Muhammad Akhyar Farrukh and focused on the “Principles of Course Design.” The training aimed to enhance faculty understanding of developing structured, research-oriented academic courses with strong alignment between learning outcomes, teaching strategies, and assessment methods. Participants were guided on how to design courses that not only improve student engagement but also contribute to academic excellence and research productivity.

A significant component of the session was dedicated to strengthening research capacity among faculty, particularly in developing effective research proposals and understanding competitive grant writing frameworks. The discussion highlighted how well-structured course design can directly support high-quality research output, funding applications, and successful project execution in both national and international contexts.

The session also emphasized the integration of Generative AI tools in academic course design, research planning, and instructional delivery. Faculty members were introduced to practical applications of AI to support literature development, proposal drafting, data structuring, and enhancing research efficiency while maintaining academic integrity.

Overall, the session provided a comprehensive platform for academic capacity building by linking course design with research proposals, grant acquisition strategies, and modern AI-enabled teaching methodologies. It reinforced UCP’s commitment to fostering a strong research culture, improving supervision quality, and enabling faculty to lead impactful research and innovation initiatives across disciplines.

Rice Technology Asia EXPO 2025

Join Us at Rice Technology Asia — Expo Centre Lahore!

We are proud to showcase a dynamic Academia-Industry Collaboration between University of Central Punjab (UCP) and Rana Rice Mills, focused on innovative solutions to boost rice exports.

Event Dates:

Saturday, May 3 – Monday, May 5, 2025

Time: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Venue: Expo Centre Lahore

Explore cutting-edge research, sustainable practices, and smart technologies transforming the rice industry.