The innovation landscape of Pakistan’s North West Frontier Province

This paper examines the industrial innovation landscape of Pakistan’s North West Frontier Province (NWFP) presenting results from its first innovation survey (2008). Analysing data collected from 304 industrial firms, this paper confirms that only 14% of the surveyed firms possessed an in-house research and development unit and around 50% of firms have no scientists or engineers working for them. Science and technology (S&T) indicators are used to provide a better understanding of the current weaknesses and strengths of industry in the NWFP. The involvement of the private sector is essential for industrial competitiveness, which in turn is crucial to formulate and implement S&T policy. This is a major challenge for Pakistan, since its national security and other geopolitical concerns currently dominate most other public policy issues.