LAHORE: The Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) has signed agreements with three universities to support hardware development, research and collaboration between academic institutions and technology businesses.
The partnerships fall under Makerspace Punjab, an initiative designed to help students and researchers develop practical technology products.
The participating institutions are COMSATS University Islamabad’s Lahore Campus, the University of Education Lahore and the University of the Punjab.
PITB Director General e-Governance Sajid Latif signed the memoranda of understanding alongside COMSATS Lahore Campus Director Professor Qaisar Abbas, University of Education Vice Chancellor Professor Aqif Anwar Chaudhry and Punjab University Vice Chancellor Professor Muhammad Ali.
Under the agreements, students, researchers and faculty members will have opportunities to use specialised laboratories, prototyping facilities and technical mentorship.
The programme also aims to support joint research projects, entrepreneurship, knowledge sharing and closer links between universities and industry.
PITB Chairman Faisal Yousaf said the initiative seeks to strengthen Punjab’s hardware innovation ecosystem through product design, rapid prototyping and locally developed technology.
The partnerships are intended to help researchers move beyond academic projects towards prototypes that can be tested and developed for practical applications.
PITB is implementing Makerspace Punjab on behalf of the provincial government.