TekNegoShow: Technologies for new normal
Do you need to learn a new technology for your livelihood or business ?
Was your livelihood affected by the pandemic? Do you need an extra income? Are you planning to start a business? The Teknegoshow, which was launched virtually on October 22, may be the answer to your concern.
Teknegoshow, that supports the “Science for the People” advocacy of the DOST, is a project of Industrial Technology Development Institute of the Department of Science and Technology ( DOST- ITDI).
DOST- ITDI Director Dr. Annabelle V. Briones said during the launching that “these technologies are timely for the new normal, but it could be used anytime, either under a normal situation or calamity or crisis,” Briones said partly in Filipino.
“With proper implementation, the local industry, businesses or businessinclined citizens will benefit [from the technologies it will offer],” she added.
Briones said the show aims to pave the way for the transfer and application of science, technology and innovation (STI) to the production sector, and help effect the desired change resulting from the use of research and development results, that R& D leads to job creation, sustainable growth and better lives.
To be broadcast via the digital platform, Facebook (@Teknegoshow) and Youtube (@DOST- ITDI), Teknegoshow is an off- the- cuff, fresh, real business type, talk show. It will run for 12 episodes every Thursday at 1:30 p. m. until January 2021.
Spread the ‘good news’
The first technology talk show of its kind by DOST, Teknegoshow will feature 13 technologies that were developed by ITDI experts and researchers, Briones said.
It will air narratives and insights of technology generators, business and industry people.
Nelia Florendo, chief of DOST-ITDI Technical Resources Division, said, “Experts from industry will be providing their insights on the potential and opportunities for business, while the adopters will be telling you their stories and challenges in adopting our technologies.”
“Clients who had previously engaged with DOST- ITDI will be sharing their stories of change that might inspire others to follow their dreams,” Briones said.
The show hopes “to spread the good news” and “deliver STI concepts in a more understandable, entertaining and engaging manner without sacrificing accuracy and relevance of information,” Briones said.
Among the innovations and technologies that will be featured are the development of reference materials for food safety, virgin coconut oil processing, VCO- enriched personal- care products, packaging technology services, emergency food reserve, hand sanitizer, Isotonic coco- based drink, mungbean coconut milk beverage, instant powdered ginger, ready- to- eat chicken arroz caldo and many others.
On a lighter side, innovation is also introduced in the show through the raw, unscripted reactions through “Tektok” to elicit more active engagement with the audience, who have to like and share DOST- ITDI’S videos with prizes at stake.
‘Won’t surrender to Covid-19’
Flor endo said the production of Teknegoshow is a component being highlighted in the DOST Grant- inAid funded project, titled “DOST- ITDI Strategic Communication Portfolio for Enhanced Technology Transfer and Promotion Delivery System.”
Florendo said that after more than a year of preparation, from conceptualization to approval of the project, when they are ready to produce the
show’s episodes, the pandemic got in their way in first quarter of 2020.
“You know what it takes for us to produce 13 episodes in a pandemic situation, that we have to account all safety protocols and requirements, given that most of [the participants] are senior [citizens]. I told Violy [Conoza, DOST- ITDI’S supervising research specialist] we will not surrender. And now we are here in a virtual platform to launch our initial production,” Florendo said.
The first episode last Thursday discussed the technology transfer delivery system highlighting DOST’S efforts in responding to issues related to the pandemic and how it addresses the need of micro, small and medium enterprises ( MSMES).
Likewise, it also tackled how the institute translates generated technologies into products, process and services for the industry and stakeholders.
Financial support mechanisms
DOST Undersecretary Rowena Guevara said: “At this time of crisis during the pandemic, many people lost their jobs and livelihood, the DOST- ITDI’S aim to provide knowledge which help
provide income or livelihood for the people is very timely.”
With the use of social media, the Teknegoshow program “will promote the technologies of experts and researchers of DOST- ITDI, broaden the knowledge of the people on science and technology which would help in the growth of the industry and people’s livelihood,” Guevara said.
With Guevara as guest in the pilot episode of Teknegoshow, she discussed the DOST services and programs and financial support with show hosts Conoza, the project leader, and Jona Beltran of DOST- Science and Technology Information Institute.
Guevara said that some technologies which the DOST has been assisting have adapted to create products and services to answer some Covid-19 concerns.
Among them is the startup Futuristic Aviation and Maritime Enterprises Inc. ( FAME), which originally develops small- scale vessel trackers and monitors that serve as communication devices for small- scale fishers.
Amid the pandemic, FAME made 132 spec imen- col lect ion booths needed by the Department of Health ( DOH) that were “distributed all over the country in less than a month.”
Taking pride of the Filipinos’ innovativeness, Guevara also mentioned the Covid-19 data analysis being done by Feasibility Analysis of Syndromic Surveillance using Spatio-temporal Epidemiological Modeler ( FASS TER) of Ateneo de Manila University.
Originally, FASS TER was developed to visualize possible scenarios of outbreaks of dengue, measles and typhoid fever. During the pandemic, it turned to analysing data on Covid-19 cases.
Guevara said the Inter- agency Task Force on Covid-19 used FASS TER dashboard to help it in deciding whether to lift the enhanced community quarantine and declare general community quarantine in areas in the country.
The local government units have been using FASS TER in analysing their Covid-19 data. Recently, the DOST has turned over the FASS TER Covid-19 monitoring platform to the DOH.
Among the DOST- funded technologies that answer the current needs, Guevara cited the Far Eastern University Tech DWARM Technologies’s artificial intelligence- enabled drones that perform thermal scanning to get the temperature not just of individual but of groups of people.
S he added that DOST agencies like the ITDI have been developing fortified food with good packaging.
To further assist projects in the new normal, the DOST created the Collaborative Research and Development to Leverage Philippine Economy (Cradle). It is a collaboration between industry and academe.
Guevara said that after its October 14 deadline, Cradle 123 proposals were received.
She added that the DOST supports the consortia of state universities and colleges and higher education institutions which link the technologies to companies.
She also cited the presence of DOST regional offices and Technology Business Incubators in universities so the researches could be adapted by the private sector.
In its news release, ITDI said the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program that has helped hundreds of MSMES prosper across the country.
There is also the Business Innovation through S& T ( BIST) that facilitate the acquisition of strategic and relevant technologies by Filipino companies for immediate incorporation in their R& D activities.
Through BIST, the government assists Filipino companies in pursuing R& D and investing in new technologies to enhance competitiveness of local industries.
Commendation
Also the show’s guest, Science Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña, who communicated via Zoom, commended DOST- ITDI for initiating the project on “transferring technology or knowhow to our fellow filipinos, who are at this time very interested in doing something new for various reasons, but mostly to generate livelihood and earn income.”
He said it is good that the people have access to technologies such as those offered by DOST- ITDI.
He advised DOST- ITDI “to monitor the trainees” on the impact of the technologies they have learned on their lives.
Asked by Conoza on how the DOST is responding to the pandemic, de la Peña said the department has several projects under the Kalusugan, Kabuhayan, Kaayusan at Kinabukasan themes. All these involve technologies where projects are made in response to the needs during pandemic.
A re you ready to attend Teknegoshow? The technology it will present in its future episodes might be the answer to your business plan.