700 applications received for Grand Challenge Fund: HEC.

ISLAMABAD -- Higher Education Commission (HEC) has received more than 700 applications for Grand Challenge Fund (GCF) which was launched by the commission in back in February.

Selected researchers will carry out research in nine thematic areas, including food security, water management and sustainability, sustainable energy, sociology and philosophy, development economics, urban planning, climate change and environment, information technology, telecoms and innovative governance reforms.

Supported by World Bank, theprogramme aims is to encourage university professors to help solve the pressing problems being faced by the country. 'For too long the HEC, funded research projects without asking whether they had any impact. GCF is different; its very ethos is to assess the quality of research and how it will contribute to socio-economic development in Pakistan, how it will help solve problems that confront us and how it will support our communities, businesses, farmers and government agencies in making decisions that improve the lives of ordinary citizens,' said HEC Chairman Tariq Banuri, in a statement.

'GCF is a very competitive grant. The...