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169030
Thu, 03/17/2011 - 15:36
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http://m.oananews.org//node/169030
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HEC scholars clinch two prizes at Cambridge entrepreneurs awards
Islamabad, March 17, 2011 (PPI): HEC scholars Faisal Khan and Shahrukh Abbas have won two awards for both of their submitted projects at this year's business plan competition at the University of Cambridge. One of their business plans was for a social enterprise for the flood-affected women while the other was a biotechnology start-up aiming to produce 'greener' bio-insecticides.
Faisal Khan is a second year DPhil student doing Systems and Molecular Biology at the University of Oxford while Shahrukh Abbas is a first year PhD Biotechnology student at the University of Cambridge. Both are alumni of the University of Peshawar and are pursuing doctoral studies under "Overseas Scholarships for MS/MPhil leading to PhD in Selected Fields (Phase-II)".
The first project was a social enterprise, Khadija's Business Park, which was the winner for the Social Enterprise stream. Faisal and Shahrukh hope that its entrepreneurial 'bazaars' for women could play a key role in alleviating the economic devastation caused by last year's flooding in Pakistan.
With many Pakistani families having lost up to 100 percent of their income, the two scholars believe their innovative approach could provide women with the skills, resources and networks to establish themselves and become active players in not only their households but the broader post-flood rehabilitation efforts as well.
The second plan, 'Sphericos Biotechnologies', was also awarded with a CUE Commendation prize for the Clean Tech stream. Its aim is to promote the cause of safer insecticides of biological origin and introduces a novel approach for the production of 'green' bio-insecticides.
"With higher education touching new heights in Pakistan, young scientists need to start thinking about how to deliver the fruits of science and technology to the common man. Our next step is to nurture a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship and strengthen our academia-industry linkages. We need local solutions to local problems" said Faisal Khan, the lead person behind the two projects.
The 1k Challenge is the flagship business competition organized by Cambridge University Entrepreneurs and is a fierce battle between more than a 100 student teams across Cambridge.
"We are grateful to Allah for this achievement as both our plans were awarded. We are being approached by several investors now that include individual businessmen and as well as some international organizations", Shahrukh said. She hails from Nowshera - one of the worst hit districts in last year's floods and is strongly passionate about putting the social venture into action. Both of these projects had been planned for implementation in Pakistan.
Faisal Khan is a second year DPhil student doing Systems and Molecular Biology at the University of Oxford while Shahrukh Abbas is a first year PhD Biotechnology student at the University of Cambridge. Both are alumni of the University of Peshawar and are pursuing doctoral studies under "Overseas Scholarships for MS/MPhil leading to PhD in Selected Fields (Phase-II)".
The first project was a social enterprise, Khadija's Business Park, which was the winner for the Social Enterprise stream. Faisal and Shahrukh hope that its entrepreneurial 'bazaars' for women could play a key role in alleviating the economic devastation caused by last year's flooding in Pakistan.
With many Pakistani families having lost up to 100 percent of their income, the two scholars believe their innovative approach could provide women with the skills, resources and networks to establish themselves and become active players in not only their households but the broader post-flood rehabilitation efforts as well.
The second plan, 'Sphericos Biotechnologies', was also awarded with a CUE Commendation prize for the Clean Tech stream. Its aim is to promote the cause of safer insecticides of biological origin and introduces a novel approach for the production of 'green' bio-insecticides.
"With higher education touching new heights in Pakistan, young scientists need to start thinking about how to deliver the fruits of science and technology to the common man. Our next step is to nurture a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship and strengthen our academia-industry linkages. We need local solutions to local problems" said Faisal Khan, the lead person behind the two projects.
The 1k Challenge is the flagship business competition organized by Cambridge University Entrepreneurs and is a fierce battle between more than a 100 student teams across Cambridge.
"We are grateful to Allah for this achievement as both our plans were awarded. We are being approached by several investors now that include individual businessmen and as well as some international organizations", Shahrukh said. She hails from Nowshera - one of the worst hit districts in last year's floods and is strongly passionate about putting the social venture into action. Both of these projects had been planned for implementation in Pakistan.
