Grand Finale & Prize Distribution Ceremony of Finding Innovative & Creative Solutions for Society (FICS 2019), a platform to foster social entrepreneurship, was held at National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST) here on Tuesday
Islamabad (Pakistan Point News - 30th Apr, 2019 ) Grand Finale & Prize Distribution Ceremony of Finding Innovative & Creative Solutions for Society (FICS 2019), a platform to foster social entrepreneurship, was held at National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST) here on Tuesday. The overall winner of FICS ’19 was Team COMET, who emerged victorious from amongst 298 project ideas pitched during the 3-stage competition. COMET is a communication device that provides off grid communication medium, in case there are no cellular services available.
It will enable one to use one’s mobile phone as user interface. The winning team was awarded a cash prize of PKR 100,000/-, sponsored by Khushhali Microfinance Bank Ltd. In addition, the winners of 8 SDG categories were awarded a cash prize of PKR 25,000, each. A total of 35 finalist teams of FICS ’19 demonstrated their prototypes of technology-based innovative solutions to a panel of 16 judges. Apart from the Prototype Development Fund sponsored by the National Radio Telecommunication Corporation (NRTC), FICS is fortunate to have patronage for 8 SDG categories from a diverse set of industries.
FICS ’19 sponsors and partners included National Radio and Telecommunication Corporation (NRTC), Khushhali Microfinance Bank, Rastgaar Engineering Pvt Ltd, Arkhitech, Keystone Consulting Pvt. Ltd. Alachisoft, Alfoze Technologies Pvt. Ltd. Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), NUST Alumni Association, Epiphany Consultants and Mind Works International. Addressing the audience, the chief guest, Lt Gen Naweed Zaman, HI (M), (Retd), Rector NUST, emphasised on the role of Science & Technology Universities in improving the lives of communities through technological intervention.
He said FICS is a perfect example of the entrepreneurial ecosystem, consisting of many critical components and working quite efficiently in unison to create the desired output. He added that the initiative has now come a long way as a viable platform for deployment and commercialisation of students’ technology-based ideas. He also protracted his compliments to the finalists of FICS’19 and wished them success in future endeavours.
