DOST APPLAUDED FOR 'INNOVATION CLUSTERS'

Senator Edgardo J. Angara lauded the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) for supporting the establishment of tripartite partnerships for research and development (R&D) among government, academe and the private sector during the department's budget hearing at the Senate.

In a keynote speech delivered at the 2011 Science and Technology (S&T) Stakeholders' Summit, Angara called for an organizational revamp of the DOST, saying that the country urgently needs "a development-oriented, strategic S&T and R&D plan that would integrate the world's top technologies so that the S&T sector becomes responsive to the needs of the people".

"We suggested a new paradigm--a more focused, application-oriented, interactive and responsive research and grants system--involving the academe and bringing in, very strongly, the private sector. I thank the DOST for enthusiastically accepting this proposal," said the veteran lawmaker.

Angara, Chair of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology, noted that the DOST has been meeting with the Congressional Commission on Science, Technology and Engineering (COMSTE) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to work out the creation of "innovation clusters," which will serve as Public-Private Partnerships (PPP's) in S&T.

DOST Secretary Mario Montejo said that the department is currently looking into the creation of a Philippine Institute for Algae Research and Commercialization (PINARC) which will conduct studies on the viability of algae propagation for animal feeds, nutraceuticals, and biofuels.

The DOST is also seeking to further cultivate its initiatives to support the booming Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry in Cebu, particularly in Cloud Computing and Software as a Service (SaaS).

Montejo added that innovation clusters for disaster science and management, and non-adversarial, environmentally-friendly mining technologies are also in the pipeline.

"Through ICT and other technologies, we can leapfrog our development. The only way to go to raise incomes, create jobs and boost our competitiveness is through S&T. We have to create synergy among all stakeholders, deploy innovative solutions to move forward fast. We can't afford to remain doing business as usual," said Angara. (30)