Over 60 enterprises from 10 member-nations of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations showcased their technologies during the Southeast Asian bloc’s virtual summit on spin-off technologies held on Oct. 5.
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST), through the support of the ASEAN led the hosting of this year’s ASEAN NEXT: ASEAN Summit on Spin-Off Technologies.
The event was participated in by representatives from research and development institutions, academe, businesses, industry players, and governments in the ASEAN region who are involved in generating spin-off technologies that are readily available for adoption or commercialization.
“These technologies in three broad fields of agriculture, aquatic, and natural resources; health; and industry, energy, and emerging technologies were featured in the Summit’s pitching sessions,” the DOST said in a statement.
Participating spin-off technology enterprises were given the opportunity to network with potential investors both from the private and public sectors and to propose their business plans through business-to-business and business-to-government meetings, it said.
President Duterte delivered the keynote address highlighting the key role of spin-off technology enterprises in the development of the country and the ASEAN region especially towards a robust post-coronavirus disease (COVID-19) economic recovery.
In his message, ASEAN Secretary-General Dato Lim Jock Hoi cited the need to establish an enabling environment for scientists, MSMEs, and startups to cultivate their innovations and ideas, and empower these key players by linking them with industry, academic and research institutions.
Meanwhile, DOST Undersecretary for Research and Development (R&D) Rowena Cristina L. Guevara asked the ASEAN member-states “to create and adopt cutting-edge mechanisms, to exchange and flourish ideas on the collective actions and STI (science, technology, innovation) priorities in the post-pandemic period, and to benefit from the region’s budding spin-off technologies.”
During the event, the ASEAN NEXT platform was turned over from Thailand to the Philippines.
Minister Anek Laothamatas from the Thai’s Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation and DOST Secretary Fortunato T. de la Pena graced the virtual turnover ceremony.