Islamabad:Coordinator General, OIC-Comstech, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary, has emphasized the importance of strengthening scientific and research collaboration between leading German institutions and the member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
This was discussed during his meeting with Saqlain Syedah, Ambassador of Pakistan to Germany, at the Embassy of Pakistan in Berlin. During the meeting, both sides held a constructive exchange of views on enhancing academic partnerships, research cooperation, and scientific mobility between German institutions and OIC member states.
Prof. Choudhary expressed gratitude for the Ambassador’s warm hospitality and appreciated the opportunity to discuss potential collaboration between OIC-Comstech and leading German research organizations, including the Leibniz Association, Max Planck Society, Fraunhofer Society, and Helmholtz Association.
He noted that such collaboration could significantly contribute to strengthening scientific capacity across OIC member states, particularly in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in Africa.
During the discussion, Prof. Choudhary proposed the establishment of a structured Comstech-Germany science partnership in collaboration with the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) to promote long-term academic and research cooperation. He also highlighted the importance of launching joint priority research programmes in key areas such as renewable energy, climate change, health sciences, artificial intelligence, and water security, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.
The proposed collaboration also includes expanding scholarships and research mobility through co-branded fellowships and academic exchange programmes, as well as exploring elements of the German-Jordanian University model to enhance access to STEM education for refugees and host communities in OIC member states.
Prof. Choudhary further proposed institutionalizing an annual Germany-Comstech Science Policy Dialogue aimed at strengthening science diplomacy, innovation cooperation, and sustainable development.
