Source: http://businessmirror.com.ph
By: Lyn Resurreccion
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) announced that the department will intensify its research and development (R&D) in 2021 following the country’s National Harmonized R&D Agenda.
This is in addition to addressing the pressing concerns related to Covid-19,
In a post on the DOSTPh Facebook page, Science Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña listed the “DOST Priorities for 2021.”
At the same time, the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)-related programs and projects will be intensified by supporting the establishment of Niche R&D Centers in the Regions (Nicers), de la Peña said.
“They will be provided with needed R&D facilities and funding to address the critical problems, present and projected which are brought about by disasters and extreme natural conditions,” he said.
The Philippines is visited by around 20 typhoons every year. Before 2020 closed, three strong typhoons wrecked havoc on different areas in Luzon.
The country is also in an earthquake belt and has active volcanoes, including Taal, which erupted in January 2020 and left thousands homeless and their livelihoods lost.
The Nicer Programs, he said, will focus more on industry and energy related R&D, DRR R&D, and biomedical devices development.
For Human Resource Development in Science and Technology, “our focus will be on how to facilitate effective learning for our scholars through responsive policies to the challenging environment.”
De la Peña said the utilization or commercialization of complete “top concern.”
Start-Ups
Support to start-ups will be given high priority, including technology business incubation and more collaborative R&D projects between industry and academe will be supported, he added.
“We will put into operation the newest state-of-the-art facilities of DOST to enable us to serve our different publics—industry, academe and government communities,” de la Peña said.
The DOST chief said among the priority R&D areas in the different sectors are the following:
For The Agriculture, Aquatic And Natural Resources
1. Expansion of the coconut hybridization program in cooperation with the Philippine Coconut Authority
2. Additional R&D projects in support of the Native Livestock Development Program.
3. R&D on aquaculture species which have potentials for food security and export. This includes the giant freshwater shrimp, or “ulang,” and saline tilapia.
4. R&D in support of native fruits for which Nicers have been put up. These include citrus, queen pineapple and tamarind.
5. Pilot testing of locally developed agricultural machines
For The Industry, Energy And Emerging Technologies Sector
1. Smart food value chain
2. Micro, small and medium enterprises’ low carbon transition.
3. Sustainable mineral resources utilization
4. Use of artificial intelligence and robotics technologies for infrastructure and disaster management application
5. Space technology applications in public services
For Health Sector
1. An anti-dengue drug medicine (a capsule composed of three plants)
2. Anti-Covid-19 programs
3. Food safety and nutrition
4. Biomedical devices in lieu of biomedical services
5. Virology research and studies.
