The National Productivity Organization (NPO) Pakistan, in partnership with the Asian Productivity Organization (APO) Japan, held a series of two-day workshops in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi to build organisational innovation capability using ISO 56000.
Delivered under the APO’s In-Country Technical Expert Service program and aligned with APO Vision 2025, the sessions aimed to strengthen innovation, productivity and competitiveness among Pakistani institutions by promoting structured approaches to innovation management.
The events were organised locally with the Pakistan Engineering Council in Islamabad and the Pakistan Institute of Quality Control in Lahore and Karachi, bringing together professionals from both the public and private sectors for practical, locally relevant learning on ISO 56000 implementation.
The workshops were facilitated by international experts from Germany, Dr. Eva Diedrichs and Mr. Claus Diedrichs. Dr. Diedrichs shared insights from decades of innovation management consulting and her work on ISO innovation standards and benchmarking tools, while Mr. Diedrichs drew on over 35 years of industry leadership and product innovation experience.
Participants included representatives from key federal ministries and national institutions such as the Ministry of Industries and Production, Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, PSQCA, PHA and SMEDA, reflecting a broad commitment to embedding innovation practices across government and industry.
Throughout the two-day engagements attendees explored core elements of the ISO 56000 Innovation Management System, practical tools, cultural enablers and strategic approaches to institutionalise innovation. Emphasis was placed on translating standards into organisational practices that support digital transformation, knowledge-based productivity and sustainable economic growth in Pakistan.
NPO Pakistan welcomed participants and reaffirmed its collaboration with APO Japan to expand national capacity for innovation management. Certificates of participation were awarded on completion, marking a practical step toward formalising innovation management across Pakistani organisations and advancing productivity-led competitiveness aligned with national development priorities.
