Inventors, designers, researchers, and students in the Mindoro provinces, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan (Mimaropa) will be given more time to submit their entries for this year’s Regional Invention Contest and Exhibits (RICE).
The Department of Science and Technology-Mimaropa (DOST-Mimaropa) and the DOST-Technology Application Promotion Institute (DOST-TAPI) have decided to extend until June 27 the deadline for the submission of entries to the RICE.
The DOST-Mimaropa announced that the regional invention tilt, which was scheduled on May 25 to 27, will be moved to August 10 to 12.
"The rescheduling intends to give due consideration to interested participants who are struggling to complete their requirements in light of the restrictions brought about by the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease) pandemic,” it said in a statement.
This year’s theme is “Imbensyon at Inobasyon Para sa Kalusugan, Kabuhayan, Kaayusan at Kinabukasan”.
"2021 Mimaropa RICE is encouraging more local inventors, designers, researchers, and students in the region to submit their inventions and research that may have a significant contribution to public order, morals, public health, and welfare,” the DOST-Mimaropa said.
The DOST-Mimaropa said both public and private sectors can compete in five categories. These are the Outstanding Invention (Tuklas Award), Outstanding Utility Model (Unlad Award), Outstanding Industrial Design (Banghay Award), Outstanding Creative Research (Likha Award), Outstanding Student Creative Research (Sibol Award) for High School and College Students.
The event will be held virtually for the first time.
"Participants in the final round will be required to submit video presentations which will then be posted on DOST-TAPI Page and entries with the highest engagement rate per category will be dubbed as the People’s Choice, a main criterion in the final judging,” the DOST-Mimaropa said.
It said out-of-school youths are now eligible to join either in the Creative Research Category or the Student Creative Research Category, provided that entries are duly endorsed by the DOST-Mimaropa and/or DOST-TAPI accredited inventor's organization within the region.
"Cash awards up to P50,000 await the 2021 RICE winners. Winners will represent the region in the National Invention Contest and Exhibits (NICE) next year,” it said.
The DOST-Mimaropa urged interested participants to submit their entries by filling out the google form: bit.ly/2021MIMAROPARICE.
To download the 2021 RICE Rules and Criteria and needed entry forms per category, go to the link: cutt.ly/2021RICEDownloadableForm, it said.
RICE is a biennial nationwide activity designed to encourage Filipino inventors and researchers to use their inventive capability by competing for cash rewards and recognitions. It is provided for by Section 4 of the RA 7459 also known as the Inventors and Invention Incentives Act of the Philippines.
For any questions and concerns, the interested participants may contact DOST-Mimaropa through their email [email protected] or via mobile number 09959726258.