The Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) bared Thursday, April 22, the completion of a total of 100 research, development and innovation projects in the industry, energy, and emerging technologies sectors amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
DOST PCIEERD Executive Director Dr. Enrico Paringit said all the 100 completed projects in 2020 were funded by the Council.
"Of the 100 completed projects, 15 of which are ready for technology transfer and commercialization, 16 for deployment to national government agencies, 41 for follow up researches, 21 for crafting of policy recommendations, and seven under facilities, technology business incubators, and capacity building,” he said during the virtual opening ceremony of the three-day Philippine Research, Development, and Innovation Conference (PRDIC).
The PRDIC is considered as the country's first massive, online public presentation of research, development, and innovation projects in the industry, energy, and emerging technology sectors.
“We initiated this event to keep the public abreast about the development of our cutting-edge solutions that helps us usher in the next wave of growth and prosperity. It is through science and technology that we can get our way out of this crisis,” he said.
"Through this conference, we hope that the public becomes more aware of the important role that R&D plays in society – anywhere from communication, transportation, disaster mitigation, food production, medical applications, and many more,” he said.
During his presentation, Paringit noted that for the past ten years, the DOST and PCIEERD funded 2,546 projects across the different regions amounting to more than P17.5 billion.
Of the total amount, P15 billion was allocated for 2,055 R&D projects while the P2.5 billion was earmarked for 491 projects under the support sector which include human resource development, policy, and technology transfer.
"The top five sectors we have supported in the last decade are space technology applications, food, disaster mitigation, process, and material science with a total budget of P9.9 billion,” he said.
The R&D projects focused on the following: artificial intelligence (AI); biotechnology; construction; creative industries; disaster mitigation; electronics technology; energy; environment; food; genomics; human security; information and communications technology (ICT); information dissemination and promotion; infrastructure development program; institution development program; material science; metals and engineering; mining and minerals; nanotechnology; photonics; process; space technology; and transportation.
Paringit said the full roster of our completed projects ranged from ready-to-eat retort foods to spray-dried powder dextran and high fructose syrup, halal chicken and chicken by-products, severe weather amphibious navigator using local abaca, among others.
“We are doing this to win the hearts and minds of our fellow Filipinos towards leaning on our own locally developed innovations. With greater technology adoption, we can enhance citizen experiences, help them overcome challenges and together further advance science, technology, and innovation (STI) in the Philippines,” he said.
“We hope that stakeholders see PCIEERD as a valued and leading partner in enabling innovations, PCIEERD will continue to champion and support worthy research projects and capacity-building activities all for our collective aspiration for economic growth, social progress, and environmental equilibrium.”