Philip Morris (Pakistan) Limited (PMPKL), in collaboration with National Incubation Center Karachi (NICK) has launched an open innovation program (“Program”) through the Innovation Lab platform.

The focus of the Program is to facilitate innovative startup founders & entrepreneurs to collaborate with PMPKL to build tech-based solutions for PMPKL’s challenges. The challenges posed to the startups fall under three categories: consumer centricity, harm reduction and customer care.

Under this Program, shortlisted startups will go through design thinking & prototyping sprints and work with PMPKL employees, subject matter experts & industry mentors to develop a deeper understanding of the challenges and craft impactful solutions for them.

Roman Yazbeck, Managing Director at Philip Morris (Pakistan) Limited, while acknowledging the need for collaboration between large, structured organizations & iterative, tech driven startups, said, “Our ambition with Innovation Lab Program is of integrating external perspective – especially that of agile startups & entrepreneurs that we find in the local ecosystem with the aim of becoming more consumer centric & data driven.”

This Program offers a great opportunity to local startups and entrepreneurs to show their prowess, establish their credibility and build their network with Philip Morris (Pakistan) Limited which will help them gain the experience and exposure they require to grow their startup.

The three finalists of the Innovation Lab Program may be eligible for cash prizes while the top winner may be additionally eligible for attending London Tech Week 2022 to grow their network on a global scale.

Committed towards its role as a catalyst towards the progress and prosperity of Pakistan, Philip Morris Pakistan is continuing its journey of success through shared value creation.