**8. Role of STEM service providers**

At the very heart of STEM eco-systems, in resource constrained environments, are STEM service providers serving as centers of excellence, hubs of learning innovation in STEM education, and fostering communities of learning in schools. STEM service providers typically maintain a handsome inventory of STEM kits, gadgets, tools, digital accessories, and other resources including softwares. Most importantly STEM service providers have experts passionate in STEM learning and capable of launching STEM programs for schools, train teachers, and run STEM sessions at schools or at their own STEM labs.

STEM service providers play a key role in making STEM initiatives sustainable by enabling school teachers implement STEM methodology through trainings, fostering collaboration and communication between teachers engaged in STEM activities

typically via online groups following Continuous Professional Development (CPD) sessions.

School management and Academic leaders seek help of STEM service providers in planning and implementation of STEM integration as well as STEM Training programs and Continuous Professional Development (CPD) for teachers. In Pakistan a slow but steady change in Policy makers' and regulators' perspective is observable, resulting into pilot projects of STEM education, primarily because STEM service providers engaging with decision makers in Government bodies by virtue of their strategic goals tied to growth in STEM education in schools.

Finally, STEM service providers organize regular events and competitions wherein students from various schools are able to participate and showcase their products. Such events generate a structural tension that forces teachers and student teams out of their comfort zone in conventional educational settings. Some STEM service providers venture as Ed-Tech startups to come up with locally contextualized, affordable and scalable STEM solutions.
