Mircoelectronic Research Lab /MERL/

This is an informational session about a proposed research and educational institution to be set up in Karachi, Pakistan . We will have a formal presentation, followed by a discussion of the business plan, and we will be soliciting input, advise, and volunteers. This is not a fundraiser but we welcome advise with fundraising, any and all donations will be welcome..

We often talk about doing things with long term impact. Here's a project that could help build and strengthen the technical community on the ground in Pakistan.

Nofil Fawad (Intel Corporation, Chandler Arizona), one of the Board Members for the project, will be in town for the event.

The Microelectronics Research Lab (MERL) is envisaged as a non-profit educational and research institute to serve as a center of excellence in the field of electronics, based in Karachi. Pakistan. The vision is to create an institution that will help seed momentum in the electronics industry in Pakistan by providing specialized training for local talent, developing a base for research and development, and building a community of professionals and entrepreneurs.

In Karachi, December of last year Sabahat Ashraf and Abdulrahman Rafiq were approached by a gentleman who has been working on planning a research and training institution in the field of Electronics, to be based in Karachi. His name is Salman Zafar, he is on the faculty at Bahria University, Karachi Campus.

He has a bunch of senior Intel engineering professionals and entrepreneurs working on the planning and development side of things.

While in Karachi, they also had Salman sit down with Dr. Samir Hoodbhoy (founding Director of the Hamdard Institute of Information Technology, and CEO of DCC) and brief him. Samir was quite positive on the idea. They also have other people such as Dr. Ahmad Safi (VP of SimCon International) advising and providing input.

Now PakSEF wants to get the Silicon Valley communities input and engagement in kicking the project of the ground.

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The Pakistan Science and Engineering Foundation (herein referred to as PakSEF) is a non-profit, public benefits organization registered in the State of California under section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue code (EIN# 20-2950808); and in the process of registration as a not-for-profit organization under the Pakistan Companies Act of 1984.

PakSEF was formed in June of 2002 with the explicit intent to bring together like-minded Pakistani Scientists, Engineers, Medical professionals and students to discuss and formulate an action plan(s) to develop Pakistan’s Scientific Culture from a grassroots prospective.

PakSEF has a three-fold mission: (1) to promote Science literacy, progressive and independent innovative thought amongst the masses; (2) to help develop and sustain an environment conducive to Scientific Research and Development, by developing and creating the necessary infrastructure required for research and development; (3) to provide a platform for the Pakistani and Pakistani expatriate Science and Engineering professional to interact and exchange ideas with one another. For more information please visit www.paksef.org.