Impact of STI Policy on Innovation Creation by HEIs In Pakistan: Exploring from the Triple Helix Model (THM) Perspective
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55737/qjss.vi-ii.25338Keywords:
Economy, Innovation, MoST, Policy, STI, THMAbstract
An innovation-based economy is crucial for a country's global competitiveness and sustainable growth. However, the impact of Pakistan's Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) policy on innovation and technology creation within Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) remains underexplored. This study examines the impact of Pakistan’s STI policy on innovation in HEIs by analyzing views of academia, industry, and government using the Triple Helix Model (THM). Forty in-depth, face-to-face interviews were conducted with Directors and CEOs of prominent export-oriented industries, Entrepreneurs, Offices of Research Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC) Directors, and Senior Government Officials in Sialkot, Faisalabad, Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Islamabad. Participants provided their perspectives on the factors influencing innovation and technology creation. The government participants assert that it provides financial resources to researchers and innovators to support their research efforts, encourage innovation, and facilitate the development of new products. Meanwhile, HEI stakeholders assert their role in fostering innovation and diffusion through applied research. However, industries believe that academic research is often not effectively transferred to industry and lacks commercial value. Conclusion: The analysis highlighted areas where Pakistan’s STI policy has been ineffective. The findings of this study will aid the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) in reviewing and formulating a more effective STI policy strategy to achieve its innovation objectives and boost Pakistan’s economy.
References
Ahmed, H., & Mahmud, M. (2022). What determines innovation in the manufacturing sector? Evidence from Pakistan. Pakistan Development Review, 365–376. https://doi.org/10.30541/v50i4iipp.365-376
Albornoz, Mario E.; Ciapuscio, Héctor; Sabato, Jorge A. (1994): Repensando la política tecnologíca. Homenaje a Jorge A. Sábato. Buenos Aires: Ediciones Nueva Visión (Colección La investigación social).
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
Campbell, S., Greenwood, M., Prior, S., Shearer, T., Walkem, K., Young, S., Bywaters, D., & Walker, K. (2020). Purposive sampling: complex or simple? Research case examples. Journal of Research in Nursing: JRN, 25(8), 652–661. https://doi.org/10.1177/1744987120927206
Carayannis, E. G., & Campbell, D. F. J. (2012). Mode 3 knowledge production in quadruple helix innovation systems: Twenty-first-century democracy, innovation, and entrepreneurship for development. In Mode 3 Knowledge Production in Quadruple Helix Innovation Systems (pp. 1–63). Springer New York. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4614-2062-0_1
Czernek-Marszałek, K., & McCabe, S. (2024). Sampling in qualitative interview research: criteria, considerations and guidelines for success. Annals of Tourism Research, 104(103711), 103711. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2023.103711
Dervitsiotis, K. N. (2010). A framework for the assessment of an organisation’s innovation excellence. Total Quality Management & Business Excellence, 21(9), 903–918. https://doi.org/10.1080/14783363.2010.487702
Ertl, H., Michael, Earl, L., Anik, & Veenhof, A. (2007). Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators in a Changing World Responding to Policy Needs. Responding to Policy Needs. OECD Publishing.
Etzkowitz, H. (2003). Innovation in innovation: The Triple Helix of university-industry-government relations. Social Sciences Information. Information Sur Les Sciences Sociales, 42(3), 293–337. https://doi.org/10.1177/05390184030423002
Fagerberg, J., & Srholec, M. (2008). National innovation systems, capabilities and economic development. Research Policy, 37(9), 1417–1435. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2008.06.003
Foundation, The Heritage. (2025). Index of Economic Freedom: Pakistan. The Heritage Foundation. https://www.heritage.org/index/pages/country-pages/pakistan.
Gopalakrishnan, S., & Damanpour, F. (1997). A review of innovation research in economics, sociology and technology management. Omega, 25(1), 15–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0305-0483(96)00043-6
Haq, M. A. U., Jingdong, Y., Phulpoto, N. H., & Usman, M. (2014). Analysing National Innovation System of Pakistan. Developing Countries Studies, 4(4), 133.139. https://www.iiste.org/Journals/index.php/DCS/article/view/11115/11416
Hassan, S., & Khan, N. (2008). Innovations in Pakistani Universities, R & D Centres and Corporate Research Institutes.
Hazem, A. L. I., Yunhong, H. A. O., & Aijuan, C. (2020). Innovation capabilities and small and medium enterprises’ performance: An exploratory study. The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business, 7(10), 959-968. https://doi.org/10.13106/jafeb.2020.vol7.no10.959
Jamali, A. R., Bhutto, A., Khaskhely, M., & Sethar, W. (2022). Impact of leadership styles on faculty performance: Moderating role of organizational culture in higher education. Management Science Letters, 12(1), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.5267/j.msl.2021.8.005
Kim, W. C., & Mauborgne, R. (1998). Value innovation: the strategic logic of high growth. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/iel4/46/15130/00691876.pdf.
Leydesdorff, Loet; Etzkowitz, Henry (1996): Emergence of a Triple Helix of university—industry—government relations. In Sci Public Policy 23(5), 279–286. https://doi.org/10.1093/spp/23.5.279
Malik, K., Bashir, T., & Ali, T. M. (2021). University-industry collaborations in Pakistan: current challenges and future opportunities. Foresight, 23(4), 496–508. https://doi.org/10.1108/fs-12-2020-0133
Mamoon, D. (2021). Review of Pakistan’s science, innovation and technology policy 2021. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.20345.60006
Mian, S., Corona, L., & Doutriaux, J. (2010). Building knowledge regions in developing nations with emerging innovation infrastructure: evidence from Mexico and Pakistan. International Journal of Innovation and Regional Development, 2(4), 304. https://doi.org/10.1504/ijird.2010.037884
Moon, M. J., & Bretschneider, S. (1997). Can state government actions affect innovation and its diffusion: An extended communication model and empirical test. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 54(1), 57–77. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0040-1625(96)00121-7
Mormina, M., & Pinder, S. (2018). A conceptual framework for training of trainers (ToT) interventions in global health. Globalization and Health, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-018-0420-3
Oxford Dictionary. (2025). Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries. Oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com; Oxford University Press. https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/
Şener, S., & Sarıdoğan, E. (2011). The effects of science-technology-innovation on competitiveness and economic growth. Procedia, Social and Behavioral Sciences, 24, 815–828. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.09.127
Shahab, M. (2011). Technology Transfer from China to Pakistan in evolutionary perspective [PhD Thesis]. Institute of Policy and Management, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Spillan, J. E. (2020). Product Innovation, Process Innovation. In Encyclopedia of Creativity, Invention, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (pp. 1895–1900). Springer International Publishing.
Taiyyeba, Z., Bhutto, A., & Serin, Z. V. (2022). STI Policies in Turkey, Iran and Pakistan: The Application of Policy Implementation Cycle in Pakistan & Relevant Importance of Indicators. International Journal of Business and Management Sciences, 3(4), 100-115. http://ijbmsarchive.com/index.php/jbmis/article/view/314.
Worldometer. (2025a). Pakistan GDP. Worldometer. https://www.worldometers.info/gdp/pakistan-gdp
Worldometer. (2025b). Pakistan Population (2025). Worldometer. https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/pakistan-population