The vision of NCBC is to effectively utilize cloud computing for Big Data applications for solution to problems of national importance. Keeping in view the advantages of cloud computing in provisioning and processing of big data and its suitability for the emerging trend in mobile devices and Pakistani R&D environment having limited hardware resources, the utility of the cloud computing is plausible. In NCBC, our focus is on the following key sub-domains, which are R&D problems of National importance.
National Center of Artificial Intelligence (NCAI) was inaugurated at the main campus of National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST) at NUST on 16th of March, 2018. NCAI is the latest technological initiative of Government of Pakistan under the government's Vision 2025 where leading universities are its partners. The center at UET Peshawar is designed to become the leading hub of innovation, scientific research, knowledge transfers to the local economy, and training in the area of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its closely affiliated fields. The central aim is to facilitate the researchers in the field of AI; help them establish and grow AI industry following international trends and seek solutions to the indigenous problems through AI.
National Institute of Urban Infrastructure Planning (NIUIP) was established in December 2010 with Higher Education Commission (HEC) funding. It is committed to promote sustainable urban development in Pakistan, and apply research in combating challenges being faced by rapidly growing urban centers in the country. NIUIP is equipped with state of the art technologies and equipment such as satellite imagery, simulation modeling for water and sewer systems, GPS and remote sensing tools, GIS digitizer, GIS scanner, Digital plotter, and licensed software such as GIS, STATA, PIPE, Oracle and GeneXpro Tools
Soon after its establishment in the year 2010, NIUIP started its postgraduate academic programs namely Urban Infrastructure Engineering and Urban Infrastructure Planning & Management. The aim of these degree programs is to perform leading edge research to groom quality researchers for the country in the field of education, research and industry. Currently, NIUIP is having 124 M.Sc. students enrolled in both the streams. In the year 2015, the institute also initiated its PhD program and currently thirteen (13) numbers of students are currently pursuing their PhD at NIUIP.
CEEC ensures need-based trainings to the engineering community as a part of continuing engineering education to in-serve engineers. The Center has been established with following objectives:
Besides serving the engineering community in general, CEEC regularly offers Teachers Training courses in collaboration with HEC for its freshly inducted faculty.
Technology Incubation Center established with the help of HEC is aimed to spur economic development and job creation through technology business incubation. The Center offers support services for start-up entrepreneurs in starting and running their businesses. Besides, it also facilitates the faculty and students in obtaining Intellectual Property Rights as well as commercialization of their research. The center is fully equipped with allied facilities, offers one roof solutions including, phone, internet connectivity, video conferencing and trainings on IP and legislative matters under the qualified faculty and staff. It also aims to attract young brains to commercialize their innovative ideas and for this purpose the Center incubates small companies, selected through a supervisory committee.
The Gems and Jewelry Center of Excellence Center is a state-of-the-art facility in gem cutting and polishing. The center with its qualified teaching faculty and laboratories offers five-month diploma in gemology and lapidary. The Center has been upgraded to Gems and Jewelry Center of Excellence that will not only provide training in gemology and lapidary, but value gems and precious stones.
UET Earthquake Engineering Center is a multi-disciplinary research and education Center, established with the aim to mitigate the seismic disaster risk in the province in particular and country, in general. The center has made tremendous progress so far in the last few years. It has been upgraded to the National Institute of Earthquake Engineering with the funding of Rs. 487.219 million by HEC. The center has developed research collaborations with renowned international organizations, research centers and universities for human resource development, research and development activities.
The Quality Enhancement Cell (QEC), is aimed to assist the university in improving the student learning by continuously enhancing and maintaining the academic standards under the HEC guidelines. At present, the QEC efforts are mainly focused on coordination between the university and HEC, and implementation of the HEC quality assessment procedures. Since its establishment in February 2007, QEC has focused on gathering information and data about the facilities, finances, research, students, and faculty of each department and, has incorporated the collected information in the HEC ranking Performa as per HEC requirements.
UET Peshawar has developed the Office of Research Innovation & Commercialization (ORIC). This office is aimed at transforming pure knowledge into products and services with the perspective of ultimate community welfare. Its main role is to strengthen University's research and knowledge creation process by providing strategic and operational support through promoting entrepreneurship, technology- transfer and commercialization activities to energize local and national economy. It also aims at strengthening University-Industry relationships by enhancing cross-cutting and multi-disciplinary research initiatives for the up gradation of local and national industries. In general, it aspires to achieve sustainable development by translation of research into public benefit through ensuring research relevance in terms of social, economic and environmental aspects.
The Advanced Robotics and Automation Lab (ARAL), located at the Department of Mechatronics Engineering, UET Peshawar, was established in 2018 and is part of the National Center of Robotics and Automation (NCRA), Pakistan. As part of a response to our national challenges such as lack of agriculture technology and productive automation, the lab is actively involved in research and prototype development pertaining to all aspects of precision agriculture, industrial automation and biomedical devices. The lab is headed by Prof. Dr. Muhammad Tahir Khan who leads a team of established researchers having Ph.D. degrees from countries; Canada and UK. Several research associates, assistants, and Master/PhD students are also engaged in research on different funded projects.
National Centre for Cyber Security (NCCS) shall play a leading role in securing Pakistan’s Cyberspace and making Pakistan world’s premier nation in Cyber Security.
The Center of Intelligence Systems and Network Research (CSINR) was launched at Electrical Engineering Department. The Center presents an example of industry academia linkage, established with the active participation of faculty of Electrical Engineering Department.
The U.S.-Pakistan Center of Advanced Studies in Energy (USPCAS-E) at UET Peshawar is designed to support Pakistan's economic development by strengthening the relevance and responsiveness of university products, including applied and policy research and skilled graduates, to the needs of the public and private sector. The Center is proceeding efficiently towards the achievements of its goals through improving governance, innovative research and curriculum reforms. As a pivotal and comprehensive research center, USPCAS-E UET Peshawar realizes the responsibility for finding sustainable solutions to the energy crisis in Pakistan.