CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA) -- Northern Mindanao recently hosted the second leg of the research conference called by the Office of the Undersecretary for Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology from January 17 to 19.

The event aims to provide insights into DOST's current research and development (R&D) priorities and thrust. It also strives to boost the competitiveness and productivity of various industries by intensifying efforts on technology transfer and the commercialization of R&D.

“The impact of DOST's funding in Mindanao is undeniable, empowering our scientific community to contribute significantly to the regional and national economies. DOST recognizes the vast potential of Mindanao as a catalyst for socio-economic development, as seen in its continuous promotion of a thriving R&D ecosystem and the development of programs, projects, and policies to boost R&D investments, human resources, and capabilities,” DOST-10 Regional Director Romela Ratilla said.

Highlighting the various niche centers in the region, Ratilla shared that there are already three centers in the region, of which two are housed at Mindanao State University, specifically Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT), the Niche R&D Center for Sustainable Polymers, and Mindanao State University-Naawan Campus, the Niche R&D Center for Sea Cucumbers, while the other one is at Central Mindanao University (CMU), the Niche R&D Center for Bamboo.

Aside from these centers, various science, technology, and innovation centers are also present in the region, such as three Technology Business Incubators at the University of Science and Technology in Southern Philippines (USTP), MSU-IIT, and CMU; three Food Innovation Centers in Northwestern Mindanao State College of Science and Technology (NMSCST), USTP, and CMU; and one Metals and Engineering Innovation Center in USTP.

“The DOST remains committed to investing in programs and projects that seek to advance our country’s productivity and competitiveness in the global knowledge economy. Through this endeavor, we aim to consistently outperform ourselves and witness incremental growth in our GII (Global Innovation Index) ranking in the years to come,” DOST Undersecretary Leah Buendia said.

The Call Conference is a four-part campaign series by DOST that aims to encourage various public and private stakeholders. It will also serve as preparation for the scheduled call for proposals and the forthcoming 8th National R&D Conference.

Since 2020, the region has already received a total of P401 million plus DOST-GIA projects. DOST-10 encourages both private and public stakeholders to submit their R&D and non-R&D proposals to their office and take advantage of the assistance that their office provides. (JAKA/PIA-10)