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DOST launches 1st ever Regional R&D Caravan

May 21, 2021 People's Tonight 653 views

TUGUEGARAO CITY – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Region 02 office has partnered with different agencies and universities in the Cagayan Valley region to promote research and development in the area and recently launched its first ever Regional R&D Caravan. The caravan is now underway and will last until May 31 this year.

With the theme “Inception to Commercialization Support to Researchers in Cagayan Valley amidst the Pandemic,” the caravan has been designed to share DOST’s programs and services that can support researchers, inventors, and scientists in the region. It also aims to get the interest and participation of the people for the R&D Community. The Caravan also seeks to highlight ways on how DOST can provide assistance to the researchers, inventors, and scientists in the region, through funding, promotion, and more.

The R&D Caravan also aims to give researchers an avenue for them to share their experiences, ideas and suggestions which in the past were often unheard of and ignored. The caravan also encourages future researchers, including students and other interested people to attend the event and stir their interest in producing technologies through research and development.

DOST 02 Regional Director, Engr. Sancho A. Mabborang, in his speech during the caravan launch, encouraged the participants and offered them DOST’s full support in their research initiatives.

Mabborang encouraged the emergence of more researchers in the region and presented concrete research’s impact on society. He highlighted eight recent commercialized technologies developed by DOST and State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) in the region that now help enterprises and individuals in the whole country.

The eight commercialized technologies highlighted included the SemEx Semen Processing, Chevon (Goat Meat) Food Processing, and Total Mixed Ration developed by the Isabela State University; Novelty Pot Made of Eggshell Powder and Tatty-Ragged Towel, Three Peanut Post-Harvest Equipment pursued by the Cagayan State University; and the Ivatan Beer produced by the Batanes State College.

During the launch, Dr. Rowena L. Guevara, DOST Undersecretary for R&D, also shared with the caravan participants DOST’s various achievements in Research and Development. DOST-PCIEERD chief, Grace F. Estillore, for her part, discussed their agency’s guidelines for its 2023 Call for Proposals and Tips on R&D Proposal Preparation. She also further encouraged the people to participate in the R&D Community.

Dr. Angel B. Encarnacion, the only career scientist in the Cagayan Valley region, actively participate in the caravan and discussed during its launch the “failure and success in submitting research proposals,” which further highlighted Estillore’s discussion.

Dr. Gil L. Magsino, retired director of the National Crop Protection Center, He talked about his journey towards becoming a researcher by sharing his personal testimony starting from his student days when he did researches as part of his academic requirements, up to when he took Research as a “career for a living.” Many participants appreciated Dr. Magsino’s testimony and shared their own similar experiences and comments during the open forum.

“We first think of research as a mere subject requirement, but if you look closely, it’s more than that. Research is a tool that can change our society and the way we live.” Magsino said in response to a question during the forum.

The Cagayan State University – Carig Campus co-organized and co-hosts the DOST 02 Regional R&D Caravan. It has the participation of DOST’s partner agencies and universities, including the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), National Crop Protection Center (NCPC), Department of Agriculture (DA), RDC 02 – RRDC, CVIEERDEC, CVHRDC, CVAARRD, and Elsevier Asia Pacific.

Lectures on Patent Drafting by IPOPHL was set on May 18-19. A write shop for Research Proposal, to be conducted by S4CP, will be on May 20-21. DOST 02 personnel will handle proposal submissions for DPMIS on May 21. Simultaneously, IPOPHL and DOST technical staff will conduct on-site and virtual Review and Revisions of Research outputs per province in Cagayan. On May 25, DOST-TAPI and PCIEERD will jointly spearhead the training on Technology Transfer and Commercialization. ELSEVIER Asia Pacific will lead the Forum on Research Publication on May 27. The caravan will have its closing program on May 28 at 2:00 PM. (DOST-R2)

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