CLDP concluded a two-week long technology transfer program for a delegation comprised of officials from Pakistan's Higher Education Commission (HEC) and four science and technology universities.  This program was conducted pursuant to an interagency agreement with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and is part of a larger initiative dating back to 2010 to encourage economic development through establishment of technology transfer offices (TTOs) and technology incubators (TIs) in Pakistan.  TTOs and TIs have helped US universities and corresponding local communities capitalize on university research ready for commercialization resulting in new products, services, companies and jobs. 

Since 2010, CLDP has been introducing select science and technology universities in Pakistan to TTOs and TIs at US universities to expose them to best practices in developing overall innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems.  During this program, the delegation first participated in an "IP Primer" on patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets at the United States Patent and Trademark Office.  The participants then moved on to Princeton University, Oklahoma State University and Carnegie Mellon University to observe, first hand, the innovation and entrepreneurship policies, facilities and human capital those universities have in place.  The HEC will be taking back lessons learned on how to help facilitate university innovation through funding and training as well as policies and programs to incentivize faculty and student innovation.  With the next round of funding, expected in December 2012, CLDP plans to help develop a core group of sustainable TTO and TI managers and mentors with more programming in the United States and in Pakistan.