Zamboanga City, February 27, 2023— The Department of Science and Technology Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) and the Ateneo de Zamboanga University (AdZU) on Monday inaugurated the P13.9 million Azul Hub Technology Business Incubator (TBI). 

The TBI was developed to support the future economic development of Zamboanga City, Region 9, and the Western Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), as well as provide a venue for local business owners to innovate through cutting-edge technologies that can resolve societal and commercial problems.

DOST Secretary Dr. Renato U. Solidum Jr. encouraged innovators in the region to avail of the services that will be provided by the Azul Hub and accelerate wealth creation in their locality. 

“This TBI facility will hopefully lead to the growth of an ecosystem for Zamboangenos startups and the promotion of an innovation-friendly culture," emphasized Solidum. "We are optimistic that this can bridge the gap between academic and industrial communities in the area and become a synergy point for their collaboration.” 

The Azul Hub was funded by DOST PCIEERD through its Higher Education Institution Readiness for Innovation and Technopreneurship Program, or HEIRIT. 

The HeIRIT Program was developed to help universities meet the Council's TBI funding requirements and train their managers to manage their own DOST-affiliated TBIs to meet the growing demand for early-stage entrepreneurial support, particularly in the regions.

Dr. Enrico C. Paringit, Executive Director of DOST-PCIEERD, stressed that the opening of the facility will strengthen the introduction of technopreneurship courses in higher education. 

"Azul Hub will place a strong emphasis on capacity building as it mentors and trains young professionals, entrepreneurs, innovators, teachers, students, and incubatees to engage in practical innovation," he said. 

Paringit added that "the facility will act as Mindanao's gateway to socioeconomic and entrepreneurial opportunities, stressing the importance of collaboration between academic institutions and business incubators.

Azul Hub is among the 44 TBIs supported by DOST PCIEERD.  

Marawi City— The Department of Science and Technology, the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD), and the Mindanao State University Marawi Campus unveiled on Friday the P10.07 million MSU Marawi Optoelectronics Science Laboratory.

The MSU Marawi Optoelectronics Laboratory, the first of its kind in the region, was put up to provide faculty researchers, graduate, and undergraduate physics students, as well as those from the BARMM, Region 10, and businesses in Iligan and Cagayan De Oro, with a research facility that can inspire them to come up with innovations in the region.

Project Leader Dr. Florencio Recoleto, Jr., emphasized the importance of the laboratory for MSU's physics program. "The facility is also accessible to our PhD residents, who can use the laboratory to the fullest extent possible and leverage the quality of education in the region when it comes to nanoscience," said Recoleto.

DOST Secretary, Dr. Renato Solidum Jr., urged Mindanao State University's researchers and innovators to assist the agency actively and continuously in its pursuit of science, technology, and innovation, particularly in higher education institutions and state universities and colleges. "We are extremely pleased that we can increase the workforce of the country through initiatives like this, which can lead to local and international collaborations as well as boost interest in research, product development, and product outputs because of the facility's presence," he said.

The project was funded under the DOST PCIEERD’s Institutional Development Program to enable local scientists to conduct research on emerging technologies. The MSU Marawi Optoelectronics Laboratory will film deposition of various metals, including copper, palladium, and gold, as well as coatings for stronger materials, anti-wear, anti-thrust, and heat resistance. Optoelectronic devices like solar cells, semiconductors, LEDs, diode lasers, and transistors will also be produced.

"Supporting facilities is part of PCIEERD’s commitment to enable researchers in the region, particularly our students, to realize their full potential for advancing science and making an impact." DOST-PCIEERD Executive Director Dr. Enrico Paringit said.

Paringit also extolled that "the science our innovators and researchers generate should ultimately redound to our people and create ripples for rebuilding and empowering communities such as Southern Mindanao”. The laboratory will provide a platform for researchers and students to collaborate on projects that will have a significant impact on the region and the country.

The MSU Marawi Optoelectronics Laboratory is one of the 45 facilities funded by the DOST PCIEERD IDP in the country in the last eight years.

Valenzuela City – To keep up with the latest trends and become more competitive in integrating educational technologies, the Department of Science and Technology Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) and Our Lady of Fatima University (OLFU) launched the Multiple Applications for Reality-Virtuality Experience Laboratory (MARVEL).  

Funded through the DOST-PCIEERD Institution Development Program (IDP), MARVEL is envisioned to provide state-of-the-art equipment and facilities for training and research in mixed reality applications for medical, allied health, and marine simulations.  

MARVEL features an advanced motion capture (MoCap) system with sub-mm 3D precision and high-speed tracking capability. MARVEL also has three top-of-the-line computer workstations with a combination of open-source and commercial software for creating multiple applications on various platforms.  

Moreover, there are five head-mounted devices for testing and demonstrating mixed reality applications. All MARVEL devices are in a climate-controlled environment with an advanced sanitation system. 

"The launch of the MARVEL facility opens the door for more game-changing innovations that will catapult technology-based solutions for the country’s education and health challenges," said DOST-PCIEERD executive director Dr. Enrico C. Paringit. 

During the inauguration, Dr. Michael Joseph S. Diño, the project lead of MARVEL team, expressed his gratitude to DOST-PCIEERD and their partners. 

“We consider this as an “ichigo ichie" experience. Ichigo ichie according to the Japanese is once in a lifetime. We are hoping to have more once-in-a-lifetime experiences in the near future. Thank you to DOST-PCIEERD and to our partners,” Dr. Diño said.  

This P6.9-million research lab will allow Filipino researchers, educators, and IT professionals to conduct research and development activities and develop products that will help students improve their skills in emergency response and maritime studies.  

In addition, the MARVEL project is expected to have a significant impact on the education and research landscape of the Philippines and will help Philippine universities and colleges become more competitive in integrating educational technologies.  

The research center will also help us stay at the forefront of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and better prepare our learners for the future. 

"We in DOST-PCIEERD have high hopes for the future projects of MARVEL especially the upcoming immersion and capacity-building programs, not only for the educators, researchers, and students at Our Lady of Fatima University but also in other universities. We anticipate the successful development of the mixed reality application through the partnerships and collaborations that will be fostered," Dr. Paringit added. 

Mabalacat, Pampanga – The Department of Science and Technology Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development is now in search of 323 projects amounting to P5.34 billion for funding in 2025.

On the first leg of its nationwide campaign in this city, DOST PCIEERD Executive Director Dr. Enrico C. Paringit urged researchers and scientists to submit their proposals and join the growing number of innovators making a difference in the country.

“We hope our researchers answer the call of the times to step up and provide solutions to the challenges that our fellow Filipinos are facing. Your ideas may be the next big thing that we need to jumpstart our economy,” he said.

In 2022, DOST-PCIEERD received 205 project proposals which received PHP 6.64 billion in funding.

PCIEERD releases its request for proposals two years before a fiscal year to give ample time to put up its annual budget for presentation to the Department of Budget and Management and lawmakers.

Proposals for 2025 should be submitted via the DOST Project Management Information System (DPMIS) from May 1 to May 31, 2023.

Project proposals should focus on the following priority areas: energy; construction; utilities; transportation; food; process; mining and minerals; metals and engineering; advanced materials and nanotechnology; optics and photonics; information and communication technologies; electronics; artificial intelligence (AI); space technology application; convergence of emerging technologies/industry 4.0 and smarter cities; environment; disaster risk reduction-climate change adaptation (DRR-CCA); unmanned vehicle systems; creative industries (games, animation, and film); creative industries; capability development; and science communication.

Batac, Ilocos Norte – The Department of Science and Technology and the Mariano Marcos State University–Main Campus (MMSU) launched on Thursday, January 19, the Philippines' first Coastal Engineering and Management R&D Center (COASTER).

The Research Center is housed in MMSU, Batac, Ilocos Norte in partnership with the Kyoto University of Japan, University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute, Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University, and other HEIs in Region 1.  

The coastal engineering program will aid in the development of innovations to combat coastal erosion, prototype of coastal flood control infrastructure, data book of flood control structures, and coastal engineering design and guidelines handbook to promote coastal resilience. 

These projects are aimed to protect resources and the coastal communities from coastal erosion and flooding through effective implementation of S&T-based coastal management.

"DOST continues to offer S&T interventions that are anchored on four thematic areas: Wealth creation, through economic development and job creation; wealth protection, through climate and disaster resilience; human well-being, through health, education, access to water and energy; and sustainability, by ensuring protection and conservation of natural resources," DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. said.

Secretary Solidum congratulated the research team behind the COASTER led by the program leader, Dr. Nathaniel Alibuyog, for coming up with an innovative approach toward solutions to the coastal erosion threats in the Ilocos region. 

"As a staunch advocate of disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM), I enjoin everyone to take part in these efforts and support the initiatives of DOST, MMSU, and the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte. Rest assured that DOST remains committed to serving the Filipino people through science and technology," he stated. 

Dr.  Alibuyog stated that the establishment of COASTER is in line with DOST strategic framework, particularly with its long-term vision to provide innovative solutions that will lead to higher productivity and better quality of life especially in coastal communities.

Region 1 has the nation’s longest shoreline, at 708km, vulnerably exposed to storm surges and tsunamis. 

For the past years, the region experienced high failure incidence of coastal flood control structures, for example, sea walls. 

This could be attributed to the yearly occurrence of extreme typhoons and the normal tear and wear of infrastructure projects. 

Thus, the need to establish the first wave flume testing facility in the country where COASTER will find ways to improve the way we design and implement our coastal infrastructure.

DOST-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) Executive Director Dr. Enrico C. Paringit also expressed his support for this milestone.

"The Council has high hopes for the future projects of COASTER. We anticipate that more coastal communities will be empowered to use the technologies and innovations of COASTER once they become familiar with the programs, technologies, and resources that this research center provides," Dr. Paringit said. 

Heads of various agencies, as well as provincial and local governments in Region I expressed support for COASTER.  

DOST funded the facility through its Science for Change Program (S4CP) – Niche Center in the Regions (NICER) program and monitored by DOST-PCIEERD.