1. Introduction

The Sohail University is dedicated to creating and putting into action a research-based culture that fosters innovation. Any research proposals, concept notes, processes, prototypes, intellectual property, publications, books, policy papers, and proposals for applied experiential learning that students, faculty, or the research/academic staff of the institutes make while providing services to or from the institute are included in the broad umbrella of “Research and Innovation.”

2. Goal of the Policy

The goal of this policy is to accomplish the institute’s vision for research and innovation by fostering a culture of research support accompanied by institutional support, allowing the institute to mobilize its contribution to society and the economy at large.

3. Policy Implementation

1. Faculty: All permanent faculty members of Sohail University are considered faculty. However, for training or workshop projects, adjunct or visiting faculty members may also be taken into consideration.

2. Principal Investigator (PI): Essentially, it means the faculty member responsible exclusively for the project until it is completed successfully. Faculty members must agree to act as Principal Investigators before consulting projects can be initiated.

3. Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI): In this context, it refers to any faculty member who is jointly responsible for the Principal Investigator. It is up to the principal investigator to appoint a Co-PI and it lies in their discretion whether to do so.

4. The Project Contributor: is a person (perhaps a Sohail University faculty member or someone external to the University) who brings the project to Sohail University.

Intellectual Property: As defined by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), inventions, literary and artistic works, designs, as well as symbols, names and images used for commerce are all examples of inventions.

4. Research and Innovation include followings:

1. Research Proposals of Faculty

2. Research Proposals of Students

3. Product development of Faculty and Students

4. Research Writings such as Publication, Book Writing etc.,

5. Applied Experiential Learning Proposals

5. Institute’s Facilitation and Incentives

• a)  General Support

  • Faculty members are encouraged to make use of the institute’s facilities, including the internet, IT equipment, and other amenities. Additionally, the institute may support the following:

• b) Funded Projects and Contract Research

  • Each Project shall be efficiently supported and funded in accordance with the project’s approved budget, which shall include operating costs, team reimbursement, and the share of ORIC overhead, if included in the budget. The ORIC office will be in charge of coordinating the financing and facilitation.

• c) Industrial commercialization and consultancies

  • Each consultancy shall be facilitated and financed smoothly as per the approved budget of the consultancy including the operational expenses, remuneration of the team etc. and the share of the ORIC overhead, if added in the budget shall be added in the ORIC’s head as per the budget. The ORIC office shall be in coordination for the facilitation and the financing. However, for commercialization of the intellectual property against which the royalty may be generated, the destitution of the royalty shall be as per policy of the Institute.

• d) Course Load relaxation

  • If the principal investigator for long-term projects justifies that it will take a lot of time to finish it by the deadline, he may ask the head of the institute to reduce the load of one course through the ORIC office. If the head of the institute is satisfied with the justification, he may relieve one course lead for one semester.

• e) Incentive for Project Submission

  • The ORIC office shall be in loop for submission of proposal submission for funding. The head of ORIC may recommend for incentive as token of appreciation for the P.I/head of Project as per the Sohail University policy.

• f) Incentive for Innovation/Intellectual Property Registration

  • According to the Institute’s policy, the Institute will pay for the costs associated with patent and copy right registration. The ORIC office will assist with intellectual property registration. Additionally, the scientist can receive an incentive in accordance with the Sohail University’s updated policy.

• g) Allowance for the Project Contributor

  • A person who brings a financed project forward but does not engage in consulting or research is referred to as a project contributor. This individual could be a faculty member from Sohail University or another outside party. A payment of 20% of the net profit, or Rs 300000, whichever is less, would be made to the project contributor.

6. Promotion of Research Culture

In order to explore and cultivate the research and innovation, better coordination and mutual cooperation is essential. In this regards the sub committees shall be formulated who will not only explore the research and innovation but also facilitate to convert it as impactful.

• a) Committees for Research Projects for funding

  • This committee will encourage the faculty to contribute ideas and studies on a variety of topics that could have an effect on society and the economy as a whole. It is suggested that each year, research themes for each field and faculty be developed and made public in order to inspire graduate students and faculty to begin investigations into these issues. The selected concepts/idea notes will be taken into consideration when funding requests are made. If a student submits an idea or concept note, their supervisor may be proposed as the project’s principal investigator, with the students serving as the project’s core team members. One faculty member from each Teaching Department shall serve on the Committee, which shall be directed by the Head of ORIC or a nominee and serve as a departmental representative.

• b) Committees for Industrial Liaison, Innovation and Commercialization

  • This group will encourage academic staff and students to submit research- and innovation-based ideas for commercialization and industrial consulting. Every year, themes for research consultancy and commercialization should be developed and announced for each discipline/faculty so that research students and professors might be inspired to start their own investigations into these topics. The innovations, ideas, and notes chosen for consultation will be taken into consideration for submission to the industries for funding and commercialization. If students provide ideas, innovations, or consulting remarks, then their supervisor may be proposed as the project’s principal investigator, with the students serving as the project’s core team members. One faculty member from each Teaching Department shall serve on the Committee, which shall be led by the Head of ORIC or a nominee and serve as a departmental representative.
    
    

• c) Committees for Incubation and Entrepreneurship

  • This committee will encourage academic staff and students to submit company proposals for entrepreneurship and incubation. Every year, themes for business plans or concepts should be developed and made public for each discipline and faculty so that research students and teachers would be inspired to start business plans by the relevant department. The chosen company proposals will be taken into consideration for finance for entrepreneurship/incubation, either from the institute or from outside. With mutual permission, the team members may decide on their roles and designations.
    
    The committee will be led by the head of the incubation center and will be made up of one faculty member from each teaching department, who will serve as the department’s representative, and one member from the ORIC office.

7. Faculty Development Program

The Sohail University supports faculty development, particularly when it comes to research and creativity. To improve the faculty’s knowledge and abilities in the areas of intellectual property rights, conducting applied research projects, commercialization, and technology transfer, training sessions, workshops, and seminars must be frequently scheduled. The ORIC office will play a vital role in organizing the appropriate programmes in this regard. Additionally, HoDs from other departments may suggest to the ORIC office useful sessions or resource people to organize in a useful manner.

8. General Roles and Regulations/Guidelines

1. a) Routine Task: This project/consultancy assignment should not affect the routine activities of the company.

2. b) Conflict of interest with Sohail University: Research and consulting projects arising from conflicts of interest with Sohail University and/or its policies cannot be initiated.

3. c) It is required that faculty members obtain approval for consulting activities through appropriate channels (HoD/Dean/Rector) to ensure that there will be no conflict of interest, especially regarding the duties and responsibilities of the institute.

4. d) It is the responsibility of the Project/Consultancy Head to ensure that ethical considerations are followed to the letter and spirit.

5. e) Prior consent from the appropriate authorities must be acquired before using any of the Institute’s equipment or other facilities, including those used by faculty, staff, or students.

6. f) Sequential use of office equipment, including computers, phones, internet access, and WiFi, is allowed without prior consent.

7. g) The project/consulting agreement/contract must be made in the name of Sohail University, and a signed copy must be placed in the consulting file in addition to one copy being sent to the relevant offices, particularly ORIC.

8. h) Sharing any private information about Sohail University with the customer during a consulting job is against the rules and will result in disciplinary action.

9. e) If the consulting project is terminated or cancelled, the following outcome must be taken into account:

   1. If the client violates the terms of the agreement, exerts excessive pressure, or makes requests that cannot be met, the situation must be reviewed with the relevant office (ORIC). The President of the Institute must be consulted before deciding whether to continue or stop.

   2. The pertinent authorities must keep track of the project’s development. An alert or warning letter may be sent to the responsible PI or the head of the project/consultancy to ensure that any need by the sponsoring agency is not met by the project team, such as delayed/deviated/not executed satisfactorily.

• The faculty member is responsible for all material and intangible losses if the client terminates or cancels the contracts because the faculty member was unable to comply with the requirements or the agreed-upon terms.