Recognizing its contribution to "enhancing the effectiveness of public institutions to reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Science for Change Program (S4CP) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) won in the 2022 United Nations Public Service Awards (UNPSA).
UNPSA is the most prestigious international recognition of excellence in public service. It rewards creative achievements and contributions of public service institutions that lead to a more effective and responsive public administration in countries worldwide. Through an annual competition, the Awards promote the role, professionalism, and visibility of public service.
During the UN Public Service Day event, UN stated that DOST's outstanding achievement has demonstrated excellence in serving the public interest and it has made a significant contribution to the improvement of public administration in your country.
"Indeed, it will serve as an inspiration and encouragement for others working for public service,” UN added.
According to DOST, the S4CP endeavors to significantly accelerate Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) in the country through massive increase in investment in S&T Human Resource Development (HRD) and Research and Development (R&D).
“This is a milestone for DOST. We are grateful and honored to the UNPSA for giving this prestigious recognition to the Science for Change Program. The S4CP has embarked on a journey to capitalize on the importance of R&D in achieving socio-economic development through research collaboration and cooperation between and among industry, academe, and research institutions to improve productivity and global competitiveness,” DOST Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña said.
Implemented under the DOST-Office of the Undersecretary for Research and Development in cooperation with the DOST Regional Offices and Councils including Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD), Philippine Council for Health Research and Development, Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD), and National Research Council of the Philippines (DOST-NRCP), the S4CP is composed of four sub-programs.
These four sub-programs are the Niche Centers in the Regions for R&D (NICER) Program, R&D Leadership (RDLead) Program, Collaborative Research and Development to Leverage Philippine Economy (CRADLE) Program, and the Business Innovation Through S&T (BIST) for Industry Program.
These are focused on an accelerated R&D Program for capacity building of R&D Institutions and industrial competitiveness. These sub-programs let R&D contribute to making positive change happen in the country.
“The S4CP enables an inclusive innovation ecosystem through creating R&D opportunities for stakeholders and key industry players, which address societal problems that translate to community transformation and regional and national socio-economic development," DOST-Undersecretary for Research and Development, Dr. Rowena Cristina L. Guevara said.
"The S4CP brought about positive changes on the ground that our direct beneficiaries and our regional operations witnessed firsthand. And our partner SUCs/HEIs, RDIs, national, regional and local government institutions, private firms and industry associations share in this accomplishment of the United Nations Public Service Award,"DOST-Undersecretary for Regional Operations, Engr. Sancho A. Mabborang mentioned.
S4CP enhances the ability of state universities and colleges, government research and development institutions, and private companies to use R&D in accomplishing the SDGs, by establishing R&D centers (SDGs 2, 3, 7, 9, 11, 13, 14 and 15), improving tertiary education (SDG 4) through R&D, addressing the disparity of R&D funding (SDG 10), and catalyzing partnerships among government, academe, industry and the civil society (SDG 17).