The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is setting up various facilities and laboratories that will help local industries develop products that meet the requirements of the export market.
Testing laboratories and research facilities for the semiconductor and electronics industry as well as for the biotechnology, nanotechnology and genomics industries are being established or upgraded. Once completed, these facilities will provide local industries access to affordable quality testing services. Currently, local companies send their samples and materials overseas for testing and analysis. Researchers and design engineers also have to go abroad to access state-of-the-art test facilities and laboratories.
The Advanced Device and Materials Testing Laboratory (ADMATEL) is being established at the DOST Compound in Bicutan, Taguig City, while the Solar Cell Characterization Facility and Philippine Genome Center at the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman are both being equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and facilities. Meanwhile, the pilot plant of the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at UP Los Baños (BIOTECH-UPLB) in Laguna is being upgraded to strengthen research and technology development.
Dr. Rowena Cristina L. Guevara, Executive Director of DOST’s Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD), said that another benefit of these laboratories and facilities is that local scientists and engineers will have access to the necessary facilities to conduct world-class research.
“Our researchers have always been at par with their foreign colleagues in terms of expertise and know-how,” said Dr. Guevara. “With the new and upgraded laboratories and testing centers, our experts and engineers do not need to leave the country to advance their knowledge and training.”
ADMATEL will house various advanced equipment such as field emission scanning electron microscope, auger electron spectroscope and time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometer. Dr. Guevara explained that these equipment will enable the facility to assist companies in the semiconductor and electronics manufacturing industries to enhance their productivity, improve their product quality and service, and increase the number of offered products and technologies. ADMATEL is slated to be launched on 12 December 2012.
Meanwhile, the Solar Cell Characterization Facility will be equipped with a special lamp that simulates the light output of the sun. “The facility will quantify and compare the performance of locally-fabricated solar cells with those sold commercially and those developed by research institutes overseas,” Dr. Guevara said.
Core facilities on deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequencing and bioinformatics are being established at the Philippine Genome Center. To be launched on 11 October 2012, the core facilities are expected to service the immediate needs of research programs on discovery and analysis of genes for applications in health and nutrition, food, agriculture and biodiversity. The facilities will also help increase local research in genomics and biotechnology.
Meanwhile, the upgrading of BIOTECH-UPLB’s pilot plant will help startup enterprises in the commercialization of products such as biofertilizers, microbial rennet, food and feed enzymes and probiotics. The pilot plant will also facilitate technology development for commercial application.
DOST-PCIEERD is also in consultation with the Electronics Industry Association of the Philippines Inc. (EIAPI) on the proposed establishment of an Electronics Product Development Center. The Center will assist the local electronics industry in offering value-added products and services such as design and development of components, hardware and software. It is also expected to provide services for testing compliance with electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and other product safety standards of countries.
DOST-PCIEERD is the lead agency for planning, management and utilization of research in the industry, energy and emerging technology sectors. (Margarette T. Maceda, PCIEERD-RITTD)
For more information:
Dr. Virginia G. Novenario-Enriquez
Chief, Research Information and Technology Transfer Division
Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development
Tel: (632) 837.2071-82 local 2102/2109
Fax: (632) 837.3168 / 837.6154
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