DOST, Oro Chamber of Commerce launch OROBEST program for productivity, competitiveness
By Dhel Nazario
In hopes of enhancing local businesses, a program initiated by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) that will enhance industry productivity and competitiveness through the adoption of scientifically developed technologies is now in Cagayan De Oro.
The DOST-Region X and the Oro Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry-Region X and local universities, recently launched the new OROBEST Program.
Formerly an annual business expo event, OROBEST or the “Optimizing Regional Opportunities for Business Excellence through Science, Technology, and Innovation” program aims to map out commercialization-ready technologies in the region and support the development of business-friendly technology packages.
OROBEST plans to deliver innovation talks, business-scientific fora, and promotional campaigns for technopreneurship and start-ups. To ensure that new research and technologies are relevant, OROBEST shall pursue extension work with producers and farming communities.
“We look forward to working with our partners in the OROBEST Program. We are optimistic that this initiative will bring us a step closer to achieving our goal of producing R&D (research and development) outputs that are relevant to local businesses and the regions,” said DOST Undersecretary for Research and Development Dr. Rowena Cristina L. Guevara.
Implemented by a project management team headed by DOST-X Regional Director Alfonso P. Alamban, OROBEST has reached out to local colleges and universities to identify researches and technologies that may be relevant to local businesses.
In parallel, the team has initiated an industry needs assessment, seeking inputs from micro, small, and medium enterprises across the agribusiness, manufacturing, and services sectors in the region. Information gathered from both the academe and the industry will guide the next set of OROBEST activities.
The OROBEST program exemplifies the kind of linkages between and among regional stakeholders that is recommended by the Inclusive Filipinnovation and Entrepreneurship Roadmap, and as envisioned under the Regional Inclusive Innovation Center in Northern Mindanao.