Ushering a new year on innovations, the Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) will fund 207 research projects in 2024.
“This year, we are allotting P800 million into these research projects to help in advancing innovation in the Philippines,” DOST-PCIEERD Executive Director Enrico Paringit said. These projects mainly focused on DOST’s four pillars, human well-being, wealth creation, wealth protection and sustainability.
Among DOST's 9 priority areas, most of the budget will be allotted to STI Governance with P570 Million focusing on maximizing the benefits of innovation in both urban and rural areas through the Smart Challenge PH and the development of entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem. DOST – PCIEERD will also invest more in industrial solutions and competitiveness development such as ICT Innovations and Artificial Intelligence and in accelerating the manufacturing sectors with P61 Million.
“Seeing the potential of our startups, on their innovative ideas, we will further assist them by continuously investing in them and our technology business incubators,” said Paringit. Moreover, to better navigate areas where the council can provide support especially in fostering innovation and adapting to the evolving industries, DOST – PCIEERD extends support in shaping effective policies.
The Council is also providing funding support of about P65 Million to technologies that can address environmental challenges associated with several mining operations and boost mining rehabilitation efforts.
To increase the impact of R&Ds on the general public, the Council will also support projects on science communication. About P21 Million funds will be utilized in capacitating RSEs and practitioners through various science communication programs including media. This also includes strengthening the SciComm Knowledge Management System to address knowledge gaps between the science community and the Filipinos.
“This 2024, we are looking forward to how our newly funded projects and endeavors will drive economic growth,” Paringit said as he encouraged researchers to come up with ideas that will provide maximum economic benefit to Filipinos.
Research projects that will be funded for 2024 are products of the Call for Proposals in 2022 and 2023 and have passed rigorous screening by the Council.
