Punjab University today formally enacted a new policy allowing its academics to receive up to 80 per cent of royalties from their research and to establish their own commercial enterprises, a landmark move aimed at converting academic work into socio-economic benefit.
The “Research, Innovation and Commercialisation Policy 2026,” which is now being implemented, provides a comprehensive framework to bridge the gap between academia and industry by transferring cutting-edge technologies from the laboratory to the market.
Under the new regulations, faculty spin-off companies are permitted, allowing researchers to create and manage commercial ventures based on innovations developed at the university. The institution will provide structured support and a transparent revenue-sharing mechanism for these new enterprises.
A key feature of the initiative is a strong emphasis on Intellectual Property (IP) protection. The university will facilitate the national and international registration of patents, copyrights, and trademarks to safeguard researchers” inventions. This is coupled with what the university describes as fair financial incentives, ensuring innovators receive between 50 and 80 per cent of royalty income.
The policy was prepared by the Punjab University Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialisation (ORIC) and has been approved by the Syndicate. According to a university spokesman, ORIC will be central to the policy”s execution, evaluating inventions and connecting them with potential industrial partners.
To preserve patent eligibility, academic staff must submit a technology disclosure form to ORIC before any publication or public disclosure of their work.
The framework also includes structured support for securing external research funding and allows faculty to provide advisory services through a defined income-sharing model.
Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ali described the policy as a strategic roadmap for converting research excellence into national benefit. He stated that the initiative is expected to generate financial returns for both researchers and the institution, improve university rankings, and contribute to Pakistan”s development in line with directives from the Higher Education and Planning Commissions.
Director ORIC, Prof. Dr. Aqil Inam, added that the policy aims to establish a dynamic, innovation-driven ecosystem at Punjab University, enabling researchers to play a more effective role in economic growth and social development.