Alternative fuels and sustainability lab inaugurated at SCME
A state-of-the-art lab has been inaugurated under the joint venture of Tufail Group of Chemicals (a National Science & Technology Park tenant) with the School of Chemical and Materials Engineering (SCME, NUST) through the efforts of Innovation & commercialisation (I&C) and University Advancement Office (UAO) Directorates, on Friday the of August 12. 2022.
Tenured Associate Professor, Dr Salman Raza Naqvi, Principal Investigator of the lab has been awarded the funding of PKR 2.5 million in order to establish a laboratory with the name of “Alternative fuels and sustainability” by Tufail Group.
Other members of the lab include Dr Umair Sikander, Dr Zaib Jahan, Dr Taqi Mehran, Dr Noman Aslam Khan, Dr Ameen Shahid, Dr Noman Ahmed and Dr Rafay Jaffery. The lab also includes 4 PhD and 8 Master’s students.
The laboratory will produce proof of concept for the innovative products, sustainable solutions in circular economy and skilled manpower to the industry as well as better socioeconomic society.
A variety of chemicals are being imported into the country. This lab will develop novel solutions to produce indigenous products from local raw materials to reduce imports. A separate fund has been allotted for master’s and PhD students as well as being granted access to the lab equipment to facilitate their respective research works. The Industrial lab at SCME clearly depicts an example of an academia-industry strong collaboration to foster national innovation and ecosystem.