Our Rector’s Visit to Pakistan Strengthened the Culture of Working Together for a Shared Future

ITU Rector Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal visited the Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS) and the Institute of Space Technology (IST). As the guest of honor at IBCAST 2025, Prof. Dr. Mandal delivered a speech and, within the scope of the conference, met with NESCOM officials and signed a protocol (MoU) between ITU and NESCOM.

Stating that they are transcending borders through science and developing a culture of collaboration for a shared future in nuclear and space technologies while building strategic bridges, ITU Rector Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal visited the Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS) and the Institute of Space Technology (IST) in Islamabad on August 20, 2025.

During the Rector's visit, discussions were held with PIEAS on developing joint projects in critical areas such as nuclear engineering, energy systems, advanced materials, and AI-based nuclear security. With IST, potential collaborations were explored in satellite technologies, unmanned aerial vehicles, remote sensing & GIS applications, materials science, and AI-based data processing.

Prof. Dr. Mandal emphasized that these visits also hold great significance in establishing lasting bridges within the high-tech-focused R&D ecosystem through the universal language of science and technology.

Prof. Dr. Mandal participated as the guest of honor in the 22nd International Bhurban Conference on Applied Sciences & Technology (IBCAST 2025), which is among the traditional scientific gatherings in the field of Applied Sciences and Technologies and was held in Murree between August 19–23, 2025.

In his speech titled “Progress in Advanced Materials” at IBCAST 2025, our Rector presented ITU's strong research ecosystem and its vision for international cooperation. He emphasized the critical role of advanced materials in sustainability and technological transformation, as well as the importance of co-creation and collective success in interdisciplinary projects focused on future technologies.

As part of the conference, Prof. Dr. Mandal met with officials from the National Engineering and Scientific Commission (NESCOM), Pakistan’s leading institution in defense and advanced technologies. The meeting, which explored opportunities for joint work based on co-production in these fields, resulted in the signing of a cooperation protocol between ITU and NESCOM.

The protocol between ITU and NESCOM will strengthen the co-production capacity of both institutions in various areas such as graduate education, short-term training programs, joint research projects, and academic exchange. It will also make a strategic contribution to the shared production capacity of both countries in the fields of science and technology.

Our Rector visited the National Aerospace Science and Technology Park (NASTP) in Islamabad on August 22 to develop existing collaborations and held various meetings there.

NASTP, which hosts leading Turkish companies like BAYKAR and Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ), facilitates international R&D and innovation activities in critical areas from advanced materials to cybersecurity, satellite technologies, and artificial intelligence. The technology park also runs an entrepreneurship ecosystem and startup incubation programs.

At NASTP, Prof. Dr. Mandal visited the ground station of PAUSAT-1, a satellite developed by Air University (AU) and ITU, which is one of the world's largest and most advanced CubeSats, and received information on its current status. Furthermore, new collaborations for next-generation satellite studies were evaluated.

Potential collaborations to be implemented were discussed, including the joint design of future satellites, cybersecurity in aerospace systems, and AI-supported autonomy, as well as joint innovation laboratories, researcher mobility, and entrepreneurship and startup support mechanisms.