Vol.9, Issue 6 (November-December 2017)
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Inside this Issue From the Executive Director’s Desk 01 News/Activities/Highlights from COMSATS 02 Secretariat Special Section: The Federal Republic of 09 Somalia Joins COMSATS as its 26th Member State Member Country in Spectrum: Somalia 11 Activities/News of COMSATS’ Centres of 13 Excellence Opinion: Internet of Things, Cloud and Fog 20 Paradigm: The catch-up Science, Technology and Development 22 Profile of Member COMSATS’ Technical 23 Advisory Committee: Prof. Dr. Yin Li, Institute ED COMSATS, Dr. S.M. Junaid Zaidi, and Somali Minister for Education of Microbiology, CAS, China Ministry of Education, Culture, and Higher Education, H.E. Abdi Dahir Osman, signing the Membership Agreement (9th November 2017) COMSATS’ Brief and Announcements 24 Patron: Dr. S.M. Junaid Zaidi From the Executive Director’s Desk Executive Director COMSATS The industrial and S&T revolutions that covers is of the World Science Forum 2017 Editors: humanity witnessed during the last hundred (page 13). Attending the WSF-2017 was Ms. Farhana Saleem years or so has shaped and modernized a matter of pride for me for two reasons: i) Ms. Sameen Ruqia Imadi this world in many ways. The level of socio- It was coordinated by COMSATS’ Centre economic benefits that nations have reaped of Excellence in Jordan, Royal Scientific Designing & Development: from these revolutions is visible from their Society; ii) Advocacy of science at the highest Mr. Imran Chaudhry development indicators. International level is the premise on which COMSATS was organizations, like COMSATS, are working built and any such initiative is heartening. Contributions from readers to bridge the development gap between the are welcome on any matter North and the South for a more equitable COMSATS Secretariat, while focusing on relevant to the mission world, as well as create collaborations its mandate of increasing the involvement of of COMSATS, namely the between the two regions based on mutual North for the betterment and development promotion of South-South interests and to create a more peaceful world. of South, and increasing the outreach of the cooperation in science and organization, kept its efforts going as the technology for sustainable Conscious of its responsibilities towards its officials held meetings with foreign diplomats progress of the developing mission and the stakeholders, COMSATS from Azerbaijan, Argentina, Nepal, Morocco, countries. The responsibility is on a constant mission to re-align itself to and Australia. Moreover the officials from the for the accuracy of any meet the needs of its mission and objectives. Secretariat visited countries including Oman, information rests with the A recent activity in this connection has China, and Italy to enhance the cooperation original source. Views been the 2nd meeting of its think tank, the with the institutions there (page 6). expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect Technical Advisory Committee, held in those of its editors, publisher Italy, hosted generously by The World As you go through the pages of this issue or COMSATS. Academy of Sciences (TWAS) (page 02). of COMSATS Newsletter, 2018 has already A panel of international experts comprising dawned on us. A resolution at COMSATS the Committee sat together and advised would be towards its mission of expansion COMSATS Secretariat: COMSATS Secretariat on means to enhance in terms of membership, programmes and Shahrah-e-Jamhuriat, G-5/2 research collaborations and technology- collaborations. With a wish of peaceful and Islamabad - Pakistan transfer for achieving the objectives of prosperous future, I invite the readers to feel Tel: (+92-51) 9214515 to 17 COMSATS’ Network. free with any feedback to improve COMSATS’ Fax: (+92-51) 9216539 activities and impact. E-mail: [email protected] URL: www.comsats.org Another prominent report that this newsletter COMSATS Newsletter, November - December 2017 NEWS/ACTIVITIES/HIGHLIGHTS FROM COMSATS SECRETARIAT Second Meeting of COMSATS Technical new programmes and projects, which are significant for Advisory Committee Held in Trieste, Italy achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Centres of Excellence were urged to prepare joint COMSATS held the second meeting of its International research proposals for possible funding by international Technical Advisory Committee on 15th November 2017, donor and development agencies. In view of the emerging hosted by The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) in the trends in global partnerships, COMSATS was advised to scenic city of Trieste, Italy. facilitate the Triangular (South-North-South) Cooperation in science and technology. The Committee Members met to give their technical rd inputs for future direction and programmes of COMSATS. It was decided that the 3 meeting of COMSATS Technical The TAC members that attended the meeting were Dr. Advisory Committee is planned to be held in conjunction st Sabah AlMomin, Kuwait; Prof. Huadong Guo, China; Dr. with the 21 meeting of COMSATS Coordinating Council in Jalila Ben Salah Abbes, Tunisia; Prof. Dr. Yin Li, China; Almaty, Kazakhstan, in April 2018. Prof. Sahalu B. Junaidu, Nigeria; and Prof. Dr. Amal Al- Aboudi, Jordan; while the following two members joined Cooperation Agreements Reached with through video-conference: Dr. Richard Catlow, United International Organizations Kingdom; and Prof. Dr. Sok Ching Cheong, Malaysia. The meeting was also attended by the Executive Directors, of Memorandum of Understanding with UNESCAP COMSATS and TWAS, and Heads of COMSATS’ Centres of Excellence in Egypt and Turkey. The representatives On invitation by the Executive Director COMSATS, Dr. S. M. from other International organizations based in Italy, i.e., Junaid Zaidi, UN Under-Secretary General and Executive the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) Secretary of UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and and the Pacific (UNESCAP), Dr. Shamshad Akhtar, visited Biotechnology (ICGEB) also observed the deliberations of COMSATS Secretariat on 20th December 2017. She was the meeting. accompanied by Mr. Jonathan Wong, Chief Technology and Innovation, Trade, Investment and Innovation Division, During the discussions, the Technical Advisory Committee and Mr. Michael Williamson, Head, South and South-West members were pleased to note the increasing membership Asia Office. of organization, with Federal Republic of Somalia and Republic of Turkey being the latest to join. They encouraged The Executive Secretary, UNESCAP and Executive Director COMSATS Secretariat to facilitate the expansion of the COMSATS agreed to forge collaborations for facilitation in Network to the South and the North, and up-gradation establishing institutions like COMSATS’ flagship project of existing Centres of Excellence through financial and ‘COMSATS Institute of Information Technology’ in other technical support from international donor and development member countries of COMSATS; setting up of climate organizations. change research institute in one of the member states of COMSATS; and cooperation between COMSATS and The TAC members encouraged COMSATS to initiate UNESCAP and other UN agencies. UNESCAP offered to A session of the 2nd Meeting of Technical Advisory Committee at TWAS, Trieste, Italy 2 COMSATS Newsletter, November - December 2017 Executive Secretary UNESCAP and Executive Director MoU being signed by the Director General OCERT and COMSATS signing the MoU Executive Director COMSATS help COMSATS in promoting policy dialogue on science, and computer emergency response programme between technology and innovation in the member countries with the the two parties. The cooperation would also cover other involvement of respective governments. activities, such as trainings and workshops, conferences and bilateral visits. This PoC also provides a framework The pledge of collaboration between the two Commissions for the enhancement of research and capacity building was further cemented by the signing of a Memorandum of activities in both organizations. According to the Protocol, Understanding between COMSATS and ESCAP on 20th both parties agree to jointly work, inter alia, on the following December 2017. The agreement, which aims to promote collaborative activities: science, technology and innovation (STI) as key means of implementation to meet the ambitions of the Sustainable a. Conducting joint research and development projects; Development Goals (SDGs), was signed among a b. Exchange of information and technical expertise; and gathering of foreign diplomats and representatives of c. Search for opportunities to collaborate in the future. various government officials of Pakistan during a graceful ceremony in Islamabad. The Executive Director COMSATS Meetings with Representatives of Foreign and the Executive Secretary UNESCAP signed the Missions in Islamabad agreement on behalf of their Commissions. The Minister for Science and Technology, Government of Pakistan, H.E. During November-December 2017, representatives from Mr. Rana Tanveer Hussain, and the Federal Secretary foreign missions in Islamabad belonging to Argentina, of the Ministry, Ms. Yasmeen Masood, also graced the Australia, Azerbaijan, Morocco, and Nepal visited ceremony with their presence. COMSATS Secretariat in Islamabad. The officials were informed about the scope, mission and mandate of the Protocol of Cooperation with Oman National Computer organization. The Ambassadors of non-member countries Emergency Readiness Team (OCERT), Oman were