Core Objective of ORIC:

The core objective of Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC) in NIU is to set and assign strategic, tactical and operational goals to the NIU Core Research Committee and will a have a key role in facilitating NIU research outcomes.

Other Objectives:

Other objectives of ORIC in NIU are self-adopted its consent to seek to improve the environment for research scholarship schemes and all research activities through:

• Developing the university’s strategic research directions and policies.
• Enhancing incorporation of research and education at all levels of the University.
• Encouraging technology-transfer, entrepreneurship and commercialization activities that strengthen and sustain the local and national economy.
• To critically improve research activities in NIU and also protect Intellectual property generated as a consequence of research activities.
• To increase and diversify external research funding.
• Strengthening university-industry relationships.
• Improving translation of research into the public benefit.
• Ensuring high quality standards of research are maintained which will reflect highest international standards.
• Promoting and enhancing cross-cutting and multi-disciplinary research initiatives while working out incentives and awards’ schemes for world class research and publications.
• Creating a bridge between research activities directly to the educational, social and economic priorities of the university and its broader community.
• Developing and maintaining stature of NIU among the world’s best research Institutions.

Vision

The vision of ORIC (Office of Research Innovation and Commercialization) at NIU is to promote and support research, and innovation keeping in view local context. We want to take community forward by continuously improving quality of education, building partnerships with the industry, and being able to capitalize on outcomes that result from R&D activities.

Mission

The Mission of ORIC (Office of Research Innovation and Commercialization) at NIU is to improving the trends of the research activities for the improvement of areas concerning economic, industrial, social and academic development and their accelerated advancements for achieving the national objectives by giving platform to the keen minded people to step forward and fulfill the mission.

In pursuit of this mission, ORIC has the responsibility of guaranteeing that all research programs and policies reflect the core values of academic freedom, professional integrity and ethical conduct and full compliance with all policies, legal requirements and operational standards of the university.

ORIC Role

ORIC consist upon three important wings

1. Research Development and operation
2. Innovation
3. Research Commercialization/Entrepreneurship

ORIC Activities

ORIC activities will revolve around the following research cycle to ensure research impact on economy and society

Research, Innovation and Commercialization Cycle

Development & Promotion of Research Activities:

ORIC in NIU will build up activities and programs that will:

• Set up and sustain admirable relationships with stakeholders and patrons.
• Enhance research funding from all sources both public and private.
• Supervise plan of research development and compliance.
• Support University’s research products like licensing, commercialization etc.
• Collection of data and projects related to commercialization will be approved by Director ORIC.

Functions of ORIC

The main functions of ORIC in NIU are as follows:

• To undertake research activities under the directions of HEC.
• To arrange meetings annually with HEC.
• To organize Workshops, Conferences, Trainings and Seminars for the Faculty and the Students of the Institute.
• To arrange International Trainings, Seminars and Workshops.
• To form different cluster groups comprise of faculty members and students to promote and facilitate quality research within and outside institution.
• To assist Faculty Members, applying for the research grants to National and International Funding Agencies.
• To establish Industrial Collaboration (locally and internationally).
• To reap maximum benefit for Industry by keeping track of all the modern trends by giving due consideration to the researches carried out in the university and by engaging the Faculty and Students in such Research Projects which are carried out considering the public as well as Industrial benefit.
• To develop an Anti-Plagiarism culture and to make sure the Researches carried out and the submitted Research Projects / Thesis / Dissertations / Research Papers and Research Articles should be well within the International perimeters.

Management

To set the pace to match up the challenges in the field of Research and Innovation, A separate structure and establishment for ORIC is made functional in the NIU, from ________ 20__. The Office of Research Innovation & Commercialization is headed by Director ORIC; supported by NIU Core Research Committee, Administrative Officer, Research Associate, and Accountant, to manage all research-related activities.

Administration

To set the pace to match up the challenges in the field of Research and Innovation, A separate structure and establishment for ORIC is made functional in the NIU, from ________ 20__. The Office of Research Innovation & Commercialization is headed by Director ORIC; supported by NIU Core Research Committee, Administrative Officer, Research Associate and Accountant, to manage all research related activities.

NIU Research Policy

The policy basically is used in order to carry out research activities effectively; therefore, the University prepared a holistic research policy as the guideline for researchers to help them enduring research work likewise. The guidelines are given below:

• As part of the main responsibility in the University, Academic Staff is expectant to actively participate in research activities through relevant departmental Research Group / Committee.
• Researcher(s) undergoing any Research work should fall under research groups proposed and formed by the Department and approved by ORIC.
• Outcomes of the research shall be fully governed by the Intellectual Property Policy of the University.
• Researchers are encouraged to undergo joint research work in collaboration with other research institutions or organizations to set up a global research network locally and internationally.
• Researchers shall obey the Rules, Regulations as well as University’s Code of Ethics.

Conflict of Interest (COI) Policy

This policy addresses conflict of interest (COI) so as to ensure highest standards of ethics and integrity and to protect organizational interests and reputation and to prevent its work and protect Board members and its employees from potentially damaging instances of impropriety arising from conflict of interest issues. The objective is that members must carry out their work in an environment that is free from any suggestion of improper influence and take all reasonable steps to avoid being in an actual, apparent or potential conflict of interest. The conflict of interest may arise in a situation where financial or other personal or professional considerations compromise an individual’s objectivity, professional judgment and ability to perform his or her professional responsibilities to the University.

System of Monitoring Ethical Standards in Research and Scholarly Work

This policy aims to ensure that research conducted at the University is of the highest ethical standard and applies to all University staff and students, full time, part time, visiting or adjunct faculty.

Policy Statement

As an educational institution, the University recognizes its responsibility to ensure that all research activities are conducted in accordance with the highest ethical standards and complies with relevant legal, regulatory, professional and ethical requirements and standards.  The University is also committed to promoting research culture and conducive environment.

Core Principles

The University expects its employees, or any other person conducting research on University premises, to abide by the University’s normal expectations of good practice in research and to take all reasonable steps to ensure that ethical conduct of research is observed at all times. The University is committed to conducting research based on the following core principles:

High Standards: Researchers are expected to strive for excellence and the highest ethical standards when conducting research.

Honesty: Researchers are expected to be honest in respect of their own actions in research. Honesty must be ensured in all aspects of research, in presentation of findings, reporting on research methods and procedures, gathering data, using and acknowledging the work of other researchers and conveying valid interpretations and making justifiable claims based on research findings.

Openness and transparency: The University encourages researchers to be as open as possible in discussing their work with other researchers. Transparency and open communication is to be observed in the reporting of research, data collection methods, analysis and interpretation of data, research findings and in presenting the work to other researchers.

Accountability: Researchers are expected to ensure that the work they undertake is consistent with the expectations of the University and funders of research.

Integrity: All individuals involved in research are expected to observe the highest standards of integrity, honesty and professionalism in respect of their own actions in research. This applies to the conducted of research exercise in designing studies and experiments; generating, recording, analyzing and interpreting data, sharing data, applying for funding; presenting and publishing results and acknowledging the contribution of others.

Equal opportunity: The University aims to promote and provide equality of opportunity for all who are part of its research community. Researchers are expected to treat individuals with dignity and respect and respond positively to different needs and circumstances in carrying out their research.

Safety: The University and its researchers will ensure the dignity, rights, safety and wellbeing of all involved in its research, and avoid unreasonable risk or harm to its research subjects, participants, researchers and others. Confidentiality of information given by participants, and the anonymity of subjects, must be respected at all times and documentation protected accordingly.

In addition to these core principles, researchers should ensure that their research is conducted according to appropriate ethical, legal and professional frameworks, obligations and standards. This includes seeking ethical approval for research where appropriate. Researchers are also expected to treat colleagues with integrity, honesty and collegiality, including the fair provision of references and peer review.

Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Policy

Intellectual Property laws of Pakistan include the copyright laws, patent laws and trademark laws. This area of law protects the work of creative individuals and businesses from unauthorized use or exploitation by third parties. By utilizing Intellectual Property laws, creators and innovators can fully protect and benefit from their creations.

Pakistan is a signatory to World Trade Organization (WTO), which aims to increase international trade. Under the provisions of this agreement all states which subscribe to WTO become bound to a mutual recognition of intellectual property rights at a higher level of protection that the older conventions could offer. Pakistani intellectual property laws take into account the provisions of WTO.

Further, Pakistan is a signatory to the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Work of 1886 and the Universal Copyright Convention of 1952 and Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, 1995 (the “TRIPs”). The Berne Convention’s basic requirement is that each member state must follow the principle of national treatment where, in case, the country of origin of a work is a Berne state, other members must accord to the work the same treatment as they offer to their own national.

The TRIPs is an international treaty administered by the WTO which sets down minimum standards for most forms of intellectual property (the “IP”) regulation within all member countries of the WTO. TRIPs deals with: copyright and related rights, such as rights of performers, producers of sound recordings and broadcasting organizations; geographical indications, including appellations of origin; industrial designs; integrated circuit layout-designs; patents, including the protection of new varieties of plants; trademarks; trade dress; and undisclosed or confidential information, including trade secrets and test data.

Pakistan Penal Code provides punishment under sections 478 to 489 against infringement of trade, property and other marks. This shows both international and national ramification of IP laws. Owner of the exclusive licensee of copyrights in case of an infringement, are entitled to all such remedies by way of injunction, damages, accounts and otherwise as are conferred by law for the infringement of a right.

Similarly, the holder of a valid Patent in Pakistan shall have the right to prevent the third parties, not having owner’s consent, from the acts of making, using, offering for sale, selling, or importing and having the right to assign, or transfer by succession, the patent and to conclude licensing contracts.

The proprietor of a registered trade mark shall also have exclusive rights in the trade mark. The infringement of the registered trade mark shall entitle its proprietor without prejudice to the rights to obtain any relief, by way of damages, injunctions, accounts or otherwise as is available in respect of the infringement of any other property right, under any law for the time being in force, the proprietor shall also have the right to obtain relief under the Ordinance if the trade mark is infringed.

Journal Ranking and Reward Policy for Researchers

The University has adopted excellence measures for publishing research into the journals that not only uphold publishing requirements in prestigious venues but also rationalizes “recognition and reward” atmosphere. It shall help the University in improving pedestal of research output from its platform in due course of time.

Key objectives are as under:

• To curb unethical practices of some publishers who artificially inflate IF (impact Factor) of their journals to make money and to adopt quality criteria for publications in quality journals.
• The quality criteria should consist of a number of publically available measures.
• The quality criteria should be (as much as possible) subject or domain independent.
• Minor deviations from one knowledge domain to another are to be allowed.
• Support research publication in top ranked journals (international and local).
• Be an active participant in global research.
• Encourage networking with world-wide researchers.
• Motivate diversification of academic outcomes.

Road Map