Islamabad, April 19, 2025: The International Conference on Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI): Catalysts for Regional Connectivity and Sustainable Development in the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) Region (ECONEX 2025), organised by the ECO Science Foundation (ECOSF), Pakistan, in partnership with the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan (HEC) and the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), Iran has concluded here in Islamabad at the HEC Secretariat on Friday. Kicked off on Thursday, the two-day conference served as a forum to facilitate the exchange of ideas, promoted cooperation, and inspired actionable strategies to shape a prosperous and sustainable future for the ECO region.
President ECOSF Prof. Seyed Komail Tayebi said that “The plenary sessions of this conference have not only been fruitful and insightful, but hearing about the experiences and learnings of our fellows from across the ECO region have also impacted us all on a personal level. Let me say that this conference has definitely pushed us in the right direction but such events in isolation are not enough to trigger change. We must convert such meetups into a series and take them with the same zeal as today if we want lasting results.”
Conceptualised with a background of ECO Member Countries facing common challenges, such as limited innovation, industrial productivity, gaps in trade policies, and barriers to technology transfer and commercialization, and designed to achieve objectives like strengthening Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) cooperation, promoting policy dialogues, addressing barriers, and expanding partnerships, the conference featured six plenary sessions.
The first session of Day 2, titled, “Fostering Regional Collaboration on Healthcare Innovation and Biotech in the ECO Region,” held in partnership with Health Services Academy (HSA), Pakistan, provided a platform for policymakers, healthcare professionals, researchers, and industry leaders to exchange knowledge, explore opportunities, and develop strategies to strengthen healthcare innovation and biotechnology cooperation across the ECO region.
The second session of Day 2, titled, “Building a Sustainable and Resilient Energy Future for ECO Member Countries,” held in partnership with National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (NEECA), allowed policymakers, energy experts, and industry leaders to discuss pathways for accelerating the clean energy transition, enhancing energy security, and addressing policy and infrastructure challenges in the ECO region.
The third session of Day 2, titled, “Groundwater Management in the ECO Region,” held in partnership with International Water Management Institute (IWMI) & Islamic Relief explored innovative solutions like Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) and discuss the need for regional cooperation and capacity building to address shared groundwater issues.
The panelists included notable personalities, including, Dean of HSA Dr. Tariq Mahmood Ali, Prof Ali Akbar Moosavi-Movahedi, University of Tehran, Iran – Chief Executive Officer of Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan Dr. Obaidullah, Managing Director of NEECA, Programme Manager Energy & Climate, ECOSF Khalil Raza, and Country Representative of International Water Management Institute Dr. Muhammad Ashraf, Mr. Asif Sherazi, Country Director – Islamic Relief Pakistan.
In his closing remarks, Prof. Seyed Komail Tayebi expressed his gratitude to our organizers: ECO Science Foundation, Higher Education Commission, Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Iran, and in collaboration with valued partners—CAREC Institute, China, ECO Educational Institute (Türkiye), National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (NEECA) Pakistan, Internaitonal Water Management Institute, Pakistan, Islamic Relief Pakistan, Health Services Academy, COMSTECH, and Pakistan Science Foundation, Organization for Development of International Science and Technology Collaboration (ODISTC), Iran —for their invaluable contributions in shaping impactful discussions on regional connectivity, sustainability, and innovation. Their expertise and commitment will be instrumental in advancing the goals of ECONEX 2025.
The organiser of the conference, ECOSF serves as the strategic platform for sustainable economic and social development of ECO Member Countries utilising the means of STI and industrial cooperation, whereas, ECONEX symbolizes a nexus for the ECO Member Countries, and represents the conference’s role as a pivotal platform for fostering regional connectivity, collaboration, and innovation.
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