Department of Science and Technology (DOST) urges young ones to be interested and build up a career in science so that the country will have robust innovation driven human resource.
DOST Secretary Fortunato T. dela Peña during National Science and Technology Week Amihanang Mindanao at Bukidnon State University in Malaybalay, Bukidnon shared the need to expand the pool of research and development in the regions.
He said, very few researches develop into something that people can benefit. He added, Science and Technology should create opportunities and expand potentials for growth.
“Our country can expand its potential for growth through technology,” he said.
In terms of innovation, “if we rely on linear trend of growth, we cannot leapfrog,” the secretary said. “This is the reason why we are embarking new areas which we think can help us leapfrog to technology,” he added.
DOST has a mandate to coordinate and support research and development activities.
“So a very big bulk of our project is spent for research and development. We support through grants to institutions to implement research and development programs or projects,” dela Peña said.
Based on records, close to 2,000 private and public universities and colleges have received research grants from DOST, but only around 85 of them have been able to implement research and development projects that are funded by government.
“We want to expand the pool of research and development workers and institutions,” he said.
One major change that DOST has adopted in evaluating the projects being proposed to them is the question: “How will it be translated into something that can be of benefit to our people?”
Meanwhile, DOST regional director Alfonso P. Alamban said, “All this boil down to greater productivity, competitiveness and prosperity.”
“The people in our provinces are never excluded in our efforts to make good use of Science and Technology,” he said.
The event featured some of the latest developments particularly in the research and development projects that have been supported by government; innovations coming from the academe and highlighted important services delivered to various sectors like the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and scholars to build human resource capability in science, technology engineering, mathematics field.
The main exhibition highlighted technologies developed by DOST and its partners. It also showed various applications of science, technology and innovation.
Side events were also conducted such as sessions where technologies ready for commercialization were pitched to local investors. (JMOR/PIA10)
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