FYP Funding

The FYP Funding program is a bi-annual initiative designed to identify and support final year student projects with strong commercial potential. With calls for applications each Spring and Fall semester, the program provides selected groups with a total grant of PKR 300,000, along with the necessary resources, to transform their academic concepts into market-ready products or services. The process involves a rigorous evaluation by academic and industry experts to choose the most promising innovations. Winning teams receive this seed funding and a place in the university’s incubation center. There, they undergo comprehensive mentorship and specialized training sessions where they are guided through the commercialization process by seasoned entrepreneurs, industry professionals, and their academic supervisors. The program bridges the gap between academic research and real-world application, fostering innovation and entrepreneurship. It aims to empower students to become the next generation of innovators and business leaders.

The Office of Research, Innovation, and Commercialization (ORIC) invited applications for funding selective Final Year Projects (FYPs) that demonstrated specific business and commercialization potential. The call for the FYP Funding Program – COHORT 5 was circulated on April 4, 2025, to all departments. The application deadline was April 14, 2025.
The process involved students submitting applications to their respective departments, which shortlisted three projects from each department with the assistance of the Heads of Departments (HODs) and the Final Year Project (FYP) coordinators. A total of 13 shortlisted projects from different departments were forwarded to ORIC for final evaluation.
The final evaluation process, conducted by ORIC, featured a rigorous pitching competition where students presented their projects to a joint panel of experts from the Department of Management Sciences and industry professionals. Out of 13 shortlisted projects, six were selected for ORIC funding, with each receiving a grant of PKR 50,000 to support development and commercialization efforts. The names of the selected projects are given below:

1. Development of Sustainable Lightweight Blocks Using Native Fly Ash and Locally Available Pumice as Aggregate _ Department of Civil Engineering
2. Design and Development of a Parabolic Trough Solar Collector for Enhanced Thermal Performance _ Department of Mechanical Engineering
3. Autonomous Drone Delivery System _ Department of Software Engineering
4. Capital Marketing Agency _ Department of Management Sciences
5. Conference Management System _ Department of Software Engineering
6. Smart water tank monitor _ Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

The team identified significant potential in these projects for commercialization as they prepare to develop the final products.

The selected students will be assigned a place in the CUST Incubation Center, where they will undertake the commercialization efforts of their projects with the assistance of their supervisors and the commercialization team.

The Office of Research, Innovation, and Commercialization (ORIC) called for applications to fund high-potential Final Year Projects (FYPs) with strong business and commercialization value. The announcement for the FYP Funding Program – COHORT 4 was sent to all departments on October 3, 2024, with a submission deadline of October 11, 2024.

Students submitted their applications through their respective departments, where each department shortlisted three projects with the assistance of the Heads of Departments (HODs) and the Final Year Project (FYP) coordinators. The 13 shortlisted projects from various departments were then sent to ORIC for final review.

ORIC hosted a project pitching competition as the final stage of its evaluation process. The selected FYP groups then presented their projects before the evaluation board consisting of the ORIC Steering Committee members, along with additional members from Management Sciences (Marketing). From the 13 projects reviewed, six were selected for ORIC funding, with each receiving a grant of PKR 50,000 to support their development and commercialization efforts. The selected projects are listed below:

1. Vehicle driving assistance in low visibility with obstacle detection & lane tracking _ Department of Computer Science
2. Exploration of bio-mineralization of bacteria induced high calcite precipitation by Genus Bacillus in fiber bio-concrete _ Department of Bioinformatics and Biosciences
3. Audience response system _ Department of Software Engineering
4. Image-based brick strength prediction using deep learning _ Department of Civil Engineering
5. Smart solar vehicle innovating sustainable transportation _ Department of Software Engineering
6. Multi-UAV network for providing connectivity in D.A. _ Department of Computer Science

The selected six FYP student groups were allocated a working space at the CUST Incubation Center (CIC). Students were advised to attend the CIC for 3 months to make necessary advancements in their projects.

The potential startups were trained through multiple training sessions arranged by ORIC with senior industry and technology transfer professionals. The first training was conducted on December 30, 2024, and the second training was on January 8, 2025. With the assistance of the Dean of FoMSS, the Management Sciences (MS) students who were working on their FYPs in Marketing have been allocated the selected FYP topics.

The Office of Research, Innovation, and Commercialization (ORIC) invited applications for funding high-potential Final Year Projects (FYPs) with significant business and commercialization prospects. The call for the FYP Funding Program – COHORT 3 was shared with all departments.

Students submitted their proposals through their respective departments, where each department, under the guidance of the Heads of Departments (HODs) and FYP coordinators, shortlisted three projects. A total of 19 selected projects from various departments have been forwarded to ORIC for final evaluation. A funding amount of PKR 50,000 has been allocated for each selected project within their respective departments. The selected FYPs are listed below.

1. Diagnostic Protocols for the Diagnosis of Chronic Inflammation Leading to Myocarditis _ Department of Bioinformatics and Biosciences
2. BlockVest _ Department of Computer Science
3. SaharaAl _ Department of Computer Science
4. Design, Fabrication & Analysis of Magnetic Energy Harvesting Suspension System in Vehicles _ Department of Mechanical Engineering
5. Test Case Generation Automation _ Department of Software Engineering

The final evaluation process, organized by ORIC, included pitching competition where students showcased their projects to a panel made up of experts from the Department of Management Sciences and industry professionals. The potential startups received training through several sessions set up by ORIC, led by experienced industry and technology transfer professionals.
The selected FYPs students groups were assigned space at the CUST Incubation Center (CIC) to help them modify their projects to meet market demands. Throughout this process, students communicated with the ORIC and kept updated on their progress and plans.

The Office of Research, Innovation, and Commercialization (ORIC) accepted applications for Cohort 2 of its FYP Funding Program, which provides grants to Final Year Projects with strong commercial potential. Applications were accepted until December 16, 2022.

The selection process had begun with students submitting applications to their departments. Each department, with the guidance of Heads of Departments (HODs) and the Final Year Project (FYP) coordinators, had shortlisted projects for ORIC’s final evaluation.

ORIC then conducted a final review, where students presented their projects to an evaluation board. Some selected projects from the evaluation board subsequently became SECP-incubated companies of Capital University of Science and Technology. The two companies that were established are listed below:

• Tech Flickers _ Department of Computer Science
• FlexTracker _ Department of Computer Science

Office of Research Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC) under the mentorship of Vice Chancellor initiated the concept of Incubation center at CUST. The center known as CUST Incubation Center (CIC) started its operation in February 2021.The purpose was to help CUST students and Alumni initiate new startups and develop their business by providing facilities like workshops, mentoring and training. The CUST Incubation Center (CIC) started accepting applications for its first Cohort: A pitching competition to hunt for startups on November 19, 2021. A total of the 11 applications were received for the Ist Cohort.

Eligibility Phase I (Initial Scrutiny)

A total of 11 startup applications were received and scrutinized. Faculty members from the Department of Management Sciences, along with the Assistant Director of ORIC, duly approved by the Dean of Research and Innovation, evaluated the potential applications. The initial screening was based on the practicality of the ideas presented, as well as the qualifications and experience of the teams.

Eligibility Phase II (Final Scrutiny)

The shortlisted 06 startup applicants shortlisted in the initial scrutiny were called to present their ideas in the 2nd CUST Innovation committee on 24th January 2022. The applicants presented their startups/ideas to the committee.
After detailed and comprehensive evaluation of the presented startups. the final standings as agreed upon by the committee members were as below.

1. Smart Aquaponic System _ Department of Computer Science
2. Remote Advertisement Display Management System _ Department of Computer Science
3. Mozters (Art Selling Platform) _ Department of Management Sciences
4. Freelancing Platform _ Department of Electrical Engineering
5. Research Freelancing Platform
6. Bonbeans Coffee and cuisine

The committee members unanimously agreed and selected the top two projects:

1. Smart Aquaponic System _ Department of Computer Science
2. Remote Advertisement Display Management System _ Department of Computer Science

to be inducted at the CIC with the condition that they present a demo of their work prior to signing the agreement.