Islamabad, National Productivity Organization (NPO) Pakistan, in collaboration with the Asian Productivity Organization (APO), Japan, successfully organized a series of two-day international workshops across Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi on “Building Innovation Capability in Organizations with ISO 56000 Innovation Management System.”
These workshops were conducted under the APO’s In-Country Technical Expert Service (TES) Program, aligned with the APO Vision 2025, which emphasizes strengthening innovation, productivity, and competitiveness across its member economies.
This initiative reflects NPO Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to promoting innovation-driven productivity enhancement and institutional excellence across both public and private sector organizations in Pakistan.
The workshops were organized in partnership with the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) in Islamabad and the Pakistan Institute of Quality Control (PIQC) in Lahore and Karachi.
The sessions were facilitated by two distinguished international experts from Germany, Dr. Eva Diedrichs and Mr. Claus Diedrichs, who shared their extensive experience in institutionalizing innovation management systems, fostering innovation culture, and aligning organizational strategies with the ISO 56000 Innovation Management Standards.
Dr. Eva Diedrichs is an internationally recognized expert in innovation management with over two decades of global consulting experience, including her tenure with Kearney (formerly A.T. Kearney), a leading global management consulting firm. She is the developer of the IMP³ROVE benchmarking tool and served as Convener of ISO Innovation Standards. Dr. Diedrichs has been actively supporting the Asian Productivity Organization since 2017 in advancing innovation, digital transformation, and Industry 4.0 initiatives across Asia.
Mr. Claus Diedrichs brings more than 35 years of leadership experience in global corporations and SMEs. As a former executive at 3M, he possesses extensive expertise in international business development, product innovation, and strategic growth across multiple sectors.
The workshops witnessed active participation from a wide range of public and private sector organizations, including representatives from relevant Federal Ministries and their attached departments and organizations. Notably, officials from the Ministry of Industries and Production, Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Planning, Development and Special initiatives, and other key national institutions including PSQCA, PHA SMDEA etc participated in the sessions.
Throughout the two-day engagements, participants were introduced to the core principles and applications of the ISO 56000 Innovation Management System, emphasizing tools, best practices, cultural enablers, and strategic approaches necessary for embedding innovation management within organizational structures.
NPO Pakistan welcomed the participants and highlighted the organization’s continued collaboration with APO Japan to strengthen Pakistan’s capacity for innovation management and productivity-led competitiveness in alignment with national development priorities.
Upon successful completion of the workshops, participants were awarded certificates of participation in recognition of their commitment to advancing innovation and productivity within their respective organizations.
These nationwide workshops represent a significant step toward institutionalizing innovation management practices in Pakistan and advancing the nation’s transition toward knowledge-based productivity, digital transformation, and sustainable economic growth.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
