Technologies supported by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) were featured on the second National Technology Transfer Day conducted by DOST’s Technology Application and Promotion Institute (DOST-TAPI).
The event was held on April 4, 2019 at the Reception Hall, Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), Pasay City. It also featured technologies from the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development and (DOST-PCHRD) and Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD).
Pitching session and exhibits
The technologies supported by the three DOST Councils were pitched to potential investors and adopters in hopes of finding their intended beneficiaries.
The pitching session was divided into groups, namely: agricultural productivity; disaster resilience; information technology development; micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) competitiveness; and quality healthcare.
Pitched by their respective speakers were eight PCAARRD-supported technologies which were featured under agricultural productivity as listed below:
• Protein-Enriched Copra Meal (PECM) as Feeds (Mr. Nico G. Dumandan, University of the Philippines Los Baños or UPLB)
• SFEED (Sure Feed for Goats) Pellet Feeds for Goats (Dr. Edgar A. Orden, Central Luzon State University or CLSU)
• Juan Algae Microalgal Paste as Aquafeeds (Engr. John Lorenz R. Belanio, University of the Philippines Visayas or UPV)
• Andali™ RT-LAMP Kit for PED Virus Detection in Swine (Dr. Clarissa Yvonne J. Domingo, CLSU)
• JAmp® Alert Diagnostic Kit for Shrimp (Dr. Mary Beth B. Maningas, University of Santo Tomas or UST)
• ACTICon™ Biopesticide for Cavendish Banana (Dir. Glenn N. Baticados, UPLB)
• MicroMix Biostimulant for Plants (Dr. Mannix S. Pedro, UPLB)
• Rice Production Mechanization Technologies: Rice Seeder, Rice Transplanter, Rice Combine Harvester, and Far-Infrared Grain Dryer (Ms. Chona Mae Suner-Narvadez, Philippine Rice Research Institute or PhilRice)
Other technologies were also displayed at the exhibit area. These included the Abaca Bunchy Top Virus (ABTV) Diagnostic Kit, Coffee Greenhouse Solar Dryer, Chevon Products from Slaughtered Goats, Automatic Milkfish Fry Counter, Native Chicken Production, and Biosensor Kit for Shrimp, among others.
The exhibit area also served as a venue for technology generators or representatives to negotiate and discuss collaborations, adoption strategies, and/or exchange of information. It also served as a venue for the signing of term sheets between the technology generators and interested parties to fast-track the transfer of technologies.
DOST officials' observations and participation
DOST Undersecretary for Research and Development (R&D) Rowena Cristina L. Guevara discussed Technology Readiness Level (TRL) and Investment Readiness Level (IRL) as a means of assessing the maturity of technologies. She also encouraged the cooperation of everyone in bringing the technologies to their “fully commercial” level at level 9.
Meanwhile, DOST Secretary de la Peña highlighted that the technologies featured in the second national Technology Transfer Day were directly under the pillars and/or sub-pillars of an innovation ecosystem. He said that as of 2018, out of 126 countries, the Philippines ranked 73rd in Global Innovation Index (GII).
De la Peña also said that based from the observations in the data provided in the GII, DOST is currently looking into the following factors at play in the innovation ecosystem: commercialization, diversity of the technologies, research and development (R&D), entrepreneurship culture, and administrative challenges.
He added that while not all of these are directly rated in the GII, they play a crucial role in the country’s innovation ecosystem and in effect, the country’s global standing. In pursuit of its mandate, DOST has been adopting strategies and approaches to address these.
Secretary de la Peña, along with the Director General of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), Atty. Josephine Rima-Santiago, led the ceremonial signing of the amendments to the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act No. 10055 during the event.
The first national Technology Transfer Day was held on April 27, 2016 at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Hotel, Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Complex, Pasay City.