EDITED BY: M. M. ALAM
ISLAMABAD: Hello Tomorrow is an international, non-profit initiative run by science entrepreneurs for science entrepreneurs. Its goal is simple: to empower early-stage science startups by propelling inventions out of the lab and into world-changing solutions.
Hello Tomorrow promotes young entrepreneurs from around the world, the project involves the development of innovative technology, called “breaks”. It seeks to fast these young talents relationship with key economic players in all major scientific and technological fields (venture capitalists, investment funds …). More generally, it aims to stimulate innovation in companies of all sizes on strategic themes: energy & environment, health, transportation and mobility, food and agriculture, waste and water management, Big Data, supply chain and space.
Supported by Xavier Duportet appointed French entrepreneur of the year in 2014 by MIT, Hello Tomorrow helps promote the French ecosystem innovation and enhance the attractiveness of the French territory.
Today, Hello Tomorrow is a community of more than 15,000 highly skilled people (researchers, engineers, experts, entrepreneurs, investors, journalists, public actors …) from 45 countries. This community is led locally by ” Hello Tomorrow ambassadors ” supported by the French diplomatic network since 2015.
The major event is the Global summit held in Paris, which ends the competition between startups and awards the most remarkable with a 100,000 EUR grand prize. Overall, it is a unique opportunity to meet the biggest investment funds in their sectors (Index, Accel, Y Combinator, Sofinnova, Merck ventures, Seventure, Novoseed, Sycomore Asset Management…) and the leaders of major French industrial groups (Airbus, Aéroports de Paris, Butagaz, Carrefour, i-Lab Air Liquide, L’Oréal, Michelin, Roche, Safran).
In 2016 and 2017, 10 cities will host a Hello Tomorrow conference: San Francisco, Bangalore, Sao Paulo, Istanbul, Islamabad, Los Angeles, Seoul, Shanghai and Lima.
Bringing together between 200 and 300 participants, each of these events will be dedicated to a theme echoing local and global issues (future challenges) bringing together experts, entrepreneurs and investors in the sector. Examples: transportation in Bangalore / smart city in Sao Paulo / air quality in Shenzhen / E-Health in San Francisco / Connectivity in Islamabad.
Speaking at the occasion, H.E. Martine Dorance, Ambassador of France to Pakistan, underlined the exceptionality of the event held in Islamabad, focused on the Future of Connectivity. Explaining the concept of Hello Tomorrow throughout the world, she insisted on the importance, for the Embassy of France in Islamabad, to connect people – especially young people – and to build networks in order to create new opportunities and to facilitate initiatives throughout Pakistan, with France and with the world.
Creativity and entrepreneurship a top priority in Pakistan in the perspective of 2025: Dr. Arshad Ali, Executive Director HEC briefed the audience about different initiatives of Higher Education Commission for promoting innovation and entrepreneurship activities in universities. He said HEC has established Business Incubation Centres to facilitate students and start-ups to have a platform from where they could start their journey.
“In Business Incubation and Technology Incubation Centres established at different universities, over 225 companies have been incubated that have generated around Rs. 480 Million in annual revenue and have generated 940 direct employment opportunities,” the Executive Director said.
He said that only NUST has incubated 53 companies that have generated annual revenue of Rs. 300 Million generating employment of over 150 people. Similarly COMSATS Institute has incubated 43 companies with annual revenue of Rs. 60 Million and creating 160 jobs. University of Agriculture Faisalabad has incubated 21 companies with annual revenue of Rs. 40 Million and generating an employment for 215 people.
IBA Sukkur has incubated 15 companies with annual revenue of Rs. 15 Million and job openings for 54 people. Other Incubators at UET Peshawar, Veterinary University Lahore, Quaid-e-Azam University, BUITEMS, NED Karachi, Institute of Space Technology, University of Gujrat and AJK University have also performed well during the last couple of years.
Dr. Arshad said HEC is committed to promote research culture in the country with its focus on aligning needs of Pakistani society, adding that HEC has set up Offices of Research, Innovation and Commercialization (ORICs) in different universities. “We have been making all possible efforts to promote entrepreneurship and incubation by encouraging youth to execute their ideas,” the Executive Director said.
He also informed the gathering about formation of Innovation Steering Committee by HEC to further strengthen innovation and entrepreneurship activities in Pakistani universities that will ultimately help in creation of job opportunities as well as country’s economic empowerment. He appreciated Hello Tomorrow for their initiatives to encourage science entrepreneurs and hoped to work together for encouraging young entrepreneurs.
Connecting Local talent to Global opportunities: Sanwal Muneer, who is the head of Hello Tomorrow Pakistan, believes the young generation of Pakistan is very talented and harnesses great ideas, however they need proper mentoring and guidance to make their ideas a reality. He believes that by joining Hello Tomorrow he can showcase the innovation of Pakistan at a global level and help the youth connect with global opportunities.
The aim of the event is to highlight local disruptive technologies that will shape the Future of Connectivity and solve societal and industrial problems. Attendees will be guided through the journey required to transform technologies into impactful products and services. By encouraging collaboration between local entrepreneurs, researchers, investors and industrials, the ambition is to create a momentum for change in Pakistan’s innovation ecosystem and to find solutions to some of the most pressing local challenges.
Hello Tomorrow Pakistan will be an important boost to the creation of a tech-startup ecosystem in Pakistan, home to a burgeoning entrepreneurial base. It will identify high-end technologies that can shape the high-cost, often inefficient, yet fast growing Pakistani Telecom sector.
