HOMEGROWN innovators recently pitched innovative products to prospective investors, even as the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) gave the biggest push for this convergence.
Dubbed “Leaders in Innovation Fellowship [LIF] Demo Day,” the event was held recently at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) in Makati City by the Royal Academy of Engineering and AIM, with support from the DOST.
The LIF featured 15 selected technology products to exhibit and present their ideas, and to locate possible business investors and customers. Prior to that, the innovators have undergone courses for 10 months at AIM and in the United Kingdom to hone their entrepreneurial skill by teaching them how to develop ideal business plan.
DOST Undersecretary Rowena L. Guevara said at the AIM event the science department has spearheaded various programs to encourage and empower many Filipinos in terms of conducting researches, as well as product development, that could offer appropriate and timely solutions to the country’s pressing problems. She asked the public and stakeholders to look closely at the innovative products and assess how they could help in improving their respective products and services.
Guevara said the agency spends P3 billion to P5 billion every year to fuel research and development. The last two years made the DOST realize that the technologies they are working on are readily available for technology transfer, inspiring them to spend more on it.
“We go as far as formulating guidelines we call ‘Fairness Opinion Report,’ which is necessary for any government-funded R&D [research and development] so they can transfer it to their private partners. We realize that we cannot do it alone; we need partners, like Royal Academy of Engineering and AIM, to make these things happen,” she said.
Guevara was proud to announce that the ranking of the Philippines on innovation has climbed to 48 from 11 in 2009.
Meanwhile, Executive Director Carlos Primo David of the DOST-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development agreed with Guevara’s statement about “the DOST’s ultimate goal of making S&T [science and technology] work for the country.”
He said the DOST’s goal is to reach beneficiaries and contribute to the nation’s economy through the growth of technology-based processing. He added that since last year the DOST has developed a system called 6Ps, which stands for products, patterns process, publications, people and powering.
David also expressed satisfaction over DOST researchers’ transformation in terms of teaching skills. He asked for the continued support of DOST’s partners, such as the Royal Academy of Engineering, AIM and business sectors; and congratulated their project leaders for a job well done.
Moreover, he believes that technology in the Philippines is doing great. “Sa siyensya, may pag-asa [In science there is hope]. We are shaping future leaders of Asia,” he said.
Some of the products and services presented during the Demo Day were the DOST’s Food Innovation Center, AgMULA RTA Rice Transplanter Attachment for Hand Tractors, Jolt: A Home Energy System, Smart System, Relief Vent, Pinpoint, Heart Smart, Visser and Guaviderm.
Allan Mauro V. Marfal/S&T Media Service
Image credits: AIM Facebook Page