Al-Khawarizmi Institute of Computer Science (KICS) was established at University of Engineering and Technology (UET) to promote Research and Development in the areas of Information Technology, Telecommunication and Engineering. The Institute is envisioned to play a key role in taking the country towards knowledge-based economy and competitive industrialization. One of the objectives of the Institute is to become self sufficient through commercialization of research and development output. Incubation and launch of technology companies is a unique activity that will not only help the institute attain self sufficiency but will also give the country a competitive advantage in development of high tech products and services. This has been a proven model in the newly industrialized nations in Asia Pacific region and more developed nations in the west.

Promotion of technical venture enterprises through incubation will create human resources with technical capabilities to effectively respond to global challenges in Information Technology and related fields. By adopting this incubation act, Al-Khawarizmi Institute of Computer Science will serve as a platform for effective commercialization of R and D outputs, rapid transfer of technology, and eventual financial independence of the institute.

The technology incubation activity at KICS will not only help the country in economic development and self reliance but will also attract highly motivated researchers to work at KICS. The existence of incubation activity will enable the researchers and engineers to work with greater efficiency because they stand to reap the rewards of their hard work through ownership of companies that will be incorporated to commercialize their research and development work.

The procedure of incubation at Al-Khawarizmi Institute of Computer Science, U.E.T., Lahore will be as follows:-

An entrepreneur/enterprise will seek the support of Al-Khawarizmi Institute of Computer Science to investigate an innovative idea. The idea must have a potential to become a marketable product or service. The entrepreneur/enterprise can be a researcher working at KICS, a faculty member of UET, or a person not affiliated with KICS/UET. The proposal will be filed on a prescribed form. The proposal will be initially reviewed by the Director KICS or an expert selected by him. If favorable initial reviews are received, the Director will schedule a presentation of the entrepreneur/enterprise before the Incubation Board of KICS.

The Incubation Board of Al-Khawarizmi Institute of Computer Science will be consisting of technology experts, business experts, KICS Technical Committee (TC) and Principal Investigators (PIs). The entrepreneur/enterprise will be invited to present his/her idea to the Incubation Board with complete project development plan, required resources, market feasibility, and list of expected customers. If the Board approves the idea of the entrepreneur/enterprise then entity will be incubated inside the Al-Khawarizmi Institute of Computer Science with one of the following three structural and Intellectual property ownership options:-

Al-Khawarizmi Institute of Computer Science, U.E.T., Lahore will provide office space, computing resources, networking, electricity, air-conditioning, and other support service. The entrepreneur/enterprise will provide Human and other Resources to investigate the idea.

Al-Khawarizmi Institute of Computer Science, U.E.T., Lahore will provide all of the above-mentioned facilities and the human and other resources. The entrepreneur/enterprise provides his/her intellectual guidance to the researchers.

Al-Khawarizmi Institute of Computer Science, U.E.T., Lahore will provide office space, computing resources, networking, electricity, air-conditioning, and other support service and resources. The entrepreneur/enterprise provides his/her intellectual/commercial guidance to the researchers. A third party provides financing for the human and other project resources.

Any other arrangement that does not fall in the above three categories would require approval of the incubation board and the KICS Technical Committee. For example, the entrepreneur and KICS share human resource for the incubated entity.

Once the incubation activity starts, its progress will be reviewed by an expert committee on periodical basis. These periodic reviews will be held until the completion of 1st Phase of incubation i.e. prototype development.

During the incubation activity, a negative review by the expert committee may result in termination of KICS support.

Upon successful demonstration of completed prototype, the Institute would invite entrepreneurs for productization, sales and marketing of the product. KICS will provide resources at this stage according to agreed structural arrangement.

A successful company may establish itself outside of Al-Khawarizmi Institute of Computer Science to accommodate growth and production, maintaining the mutually agreed equity of KICS. If the company establishes itself outside of KICS, the Director, KICS will be on its board of directors to ensure KICS financial interest is protected.