DOST-PCIEERD unveils 100 completed innovative projects

One hundred completed innovative projects aimed at helping Filipinos through research, development and innovation (RDI) were unveiled on April 22 as the Philippines commemorated the national Innovation Day.

The projects are among the Department of Science and Technology-philippine Council for Industry, energy, and emerging Technology Research and Development-funded 2,546 projects across the different regions in the country, amounting to more than P17 billion, DOST-PCIEERD said in a news release.

The top five sectors the council has supported are space technology applications, utilizing 29.14 percent of DOST-PCIEERD’S Grants-in-aid Program, followed by food (9.62 percent), disaster mitigation (8.57 percent), process (6.82 percent), and material science (4.69 percent).

At the online opening ceremony of the 2021 Philippine Research, Development and Innovation Conference (PRDIC), the Philippines’ first massive, online public presentation of RDI projects in the industry, energy and emerging technology sectors, DOST-PCIEERD executive Director Dr. enrico Paringit expressed elation over the feat of Filipino researchers who were able to come up with game-changing innovations amid the pandemic.

“We initiated this event to keep the public abreast about the development of our cutting-edge solutions that helps us usher in the next wave of growth and prosperity. It is through science and technology that we can get our way out of this crisis," Paringit said.

"Through this conference, we hope that the public becomes more aware of the important role that R&D plays in society—anywhere from communication, transportation, disaster mitigation, food production, medical applications and many more,” he said.

The 2,546 DOST-PCIEERD-FUNDED RDI projects are on artificial intelligence; biotechnology; construction; creative industries; disaster mitigation; electronics technology; energy; environment; food; genomics; human security; information and communications technology; information dissemination and promotion; infrastructure development program; institution development program; material science; metals and engineering; mining and minerals; nanotechnology; photonics; process; space technology; and transportation.

The DOST-PCIEERD executive director also mentioned some of the council’s completed projects, which includes ready-to-eat retort foods, spraydried powder dextran and high fructose syrup, halal chicken and chicken by-products, and severe weather amphibious navigator using local abaca, which showcased the country’s homegrown technologies and innovation.

“We are doing this to win the hearts and minds of our fellow Filipinos toward leaning on our own locally developed innovations. With greater technology adoption, we can enhance citizen experiences, help them overcome challenges and together further advance STI in the Philippines,” he said.

However, Paringit emphasized that there is much to be done, especially in terms of technology adoption and transfer for some particular sectors, thus imploring stakeholders, to continue collaborating with the science and technology community.

“We hope that stakeholders see PCIEERD as a valued and leading partner in enabling innovations. PCIEERD will continue to champion and support worthy research projects and capacity-building activities all for our collective aspiration for economic growth, social progress and environmental equilibrium,” he said.