The Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD) of the Department of Science and Technology has unveiled 348 science and technology (S&T)-related initiatives that will help the country recover from the impacts of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
During the second leg of the 6th National Research and Development Conference (NRDC) on Wednesday, Nov. 17, DOST-PCIEERD Dr. Enrico C. Paringit said as the Philippines is at the crossroads of innovation, the Innovation Council is committed to steer the country to a better tomorrow with 70 roadmaps for the industry, energy, and emerging technology sectors.
“These roadmaps serve as a guide as we put forward 348 Science and Technology (S&T)-related initiatives that will produce new facilities, human resource, technologies, and policies,” he said.
He said of these initiatives, 117 were geared towards advancing the energy, disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation, transport, and unmanned vehicle systems sectors.
“We will be supporting energy projects that enable us to forecast solar power resources, conduct modular desalination of sea brackish water, and hybrid offshore wind turbines,” Paringit said.
He expressed hope that more accurate and precise early warning systems for multi-natural hazards will be developed, and that laboratories that will process big data from our various sensors will be developed.
“We have set our eyes on developing various hybrid vehicles in different modes and other innovative vessels to move goods and people,” he said.
He said the Council is also exploring the potential of unmanned vehicle systems and its utilization in logistics, geohazards, rescue, and more.
Paringit said for the industry, 115 initiatives are being rolled out to spur growth in the creative sector, halal and food safety innovation, the metals and engineering sector, mining and minerals, process, water environment, clean air, and solid waste management.
“In the creative industries, we look forward to creating a Shoe Artisan Academy as well as R&D facilities that will focus on resource, raw materials, and fabrication,” he said.
He said they will also develop R&D programs on processing leather and sustainable packaging.
On food safety, the DOST-PCIEERD is also looking at empowering the countryside through food safety R&D hubs.
“We are also enhancing the government’s halal program with the establishment of a Halal Knowledge Center.”
He said for metals and engineering, they were eyeing to put up a metal casting innovation center foundry for casting of large aluminum molds and treatment facilities for metal waste.
He said on mining, they will be putting up an integrated ironmaking facility, a niche center for marble research, and a model rehabilitation of a legacy mine.
In terms of the process sector, the Council is also expected to establish a testing facility for medical textiles and a core facility for nonwoven fabrics.
“For the environment sector, we will develop programs on integrations in wastewater technologies, as well as testing facilities on biodegradability of plastics.”
For human resource and institution development, the Innovation Council is bankrolling 47 S&T initiatives.
“We envision to build researches on cutting edge fields like natural language processing, quantum computing, applied microbiology, and artificial intelligence,” Paringit said.
“We will strengthen regional research institutions by making more funds available to our partners in the provinces as well as our young innovators program.”
The DOST-PCIEERD is also investing on 29 initiatives that ensure seamless technology transfer and commercialization.
“We will establish university knowledge and technology transfer offices that can provide services to its researchers like intellectual property protection, technology assessment, and marketing,” Paringit said.
He said they will also empower more women-led social enterprises and come up with guidelines on venture and visa guidelines for startups, and are planning to build S&T parks throughout the country and guide our technology business incubator managers in mentoring startups.
The PCIEERD chief said under emerging technologies, they have 13 initiatives that will cover artificial intelligence, robotics, ICT, quantum computing, advanced materials, additive manufacturing, nanotechnology, optics, electronics, space technology, smart cities, and industry 4.0.
“We are looking at expanding the AI capabilities of our citizens even to those who are not science graduates, putting up research laboratories on gaming and animation, and training blockchain developers for government applications,” he said.
He said they are also putting up an R&D Center on Quantum Computing, an Electronics Product Inclusive Innovation Center, and command data centers in pilot smart cities.
The Council is also expected to come up with programs on futuristic innovations like super capacitors, materials informatics, and fuel cell.
Paringit said to communicate effectively our gains, they are also venturing into science communication with 10 new initiatives.
“We intend to come up with a knowledge management system, an R&D center, a master’s degree program, and push for the enactment of a Science Communication Act.”
“We will also be implementing eight mechanisms for impact assessment. This will sharpen our capability in crafting strong policies and advocacies in making innovation work for the people.”
Paringit also took the opportunity to call on the Filipino people to develop more and adopt technologies.
"We urge our researchers to strive to be bolder in their ideas and we will be with you in turning these concepts into technological breakthroughs. We urge our partners in government to join us in generating policies that are backed by science and technology,” he said.
“Let us work hand in hand on crafting policy measures that are science-based and relevant to our people.”
He urged the country’s scientists and engineers to continue engaging with the Council as they continue finding ways to provide solutions and opportunities for all Filipinos.