By: Estrella Z. Gallardo
As Acting Executive Director of PCAARRD, Dr. Reynaldo Ebora on his first day promptly went down to business by welcoming Ms. Karen Ann Hipol, Research and Innovation Programme Manager of the British Embassy Manila, on February 16, 2015 at the FP Fellizar Room, PCAARRD Headquarters in connection with a briefing about the United Kingdom’s Newton Fund.
The Newton Vision, as Ms. Hipol relates, is grounded on four main objectives: promote the economic development and social welfare of partner countries; build strong, sustainable, systemic relationships; support the continued excellence of the UK research base and innovation ecosystem; and unlock opportunities for wider collaboration and trade.
The Newton Fund is UK’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) commitment to promote the economic development and social welfare of partner-countries. UK establishes partners across the globe by implementing bi-lateral and multi-lateral programs with research and innovation focus.
4Ms. Hipol’s visit, aside from the main briefing about the Newton Fund, also seeks to gather initial feedback and/or response of partners, such as PCAARRD, regarding the Newton Fund Regional Research Programmed of the UK Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), a three-year regional research program on rice with Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
It also aims to achieve agriculture/food security and environmental resilience with the Research Councils UK (RCUK) based on the experiences of its partners
The briefing was organized with members of the PCAARRD Directorate and the Industry Strategic S&T Program (ISP) on Rice Manager as participants to enrich the discussions about the opportunities offered by the UK Newton Fund-Philippines Research and Innovation Partnership.
(PScijourn Mega Manila)
