TTPD Chief joins training on London R&D products entrepreneurship and commercialization

By Estrella Z. Gallardo

Dr. Melvin B. Carlos, Technology Promotion and Division Chief, and 15 other scientists and business development specialists from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) attended an eight-day training which focused on research and development products entrepreneurship and commercialization in London England.

2 The training is part of the Leaders in Innovation Fellowships (LIF) programme of the United Kingdom’s Royal Academy of Engineering and was done in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology and the Philippines’ Asian Institute of Management.

3 The United Kingdom’s Royal Academy of Engineering sponsored the training in a bid to help agencies of partner countries to translate research outputs into viable commercial opportunities. Partner countries include the Philippines, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia Mexico, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, and Vietnam.

4 Innovators trained under the programme are selected by the Academy and the concerned in-country partner organization on the basis of the research potential of their innovation and are provided an intensive residential course in entrepreneurship and research commercialization.

4 Aside from being trained in a prestigious organization, the participants also get access to the Academy’s network of investors, entrepreneurs and past fellows at its Enterprise hub.

5 The British government’s Newton Fund, covering the training allows the UK to promote the economic development and social welfare of partner countries in research and innovation. The Newton Fund covers three broad categories of activity: improving science and innovation expertise, research collaboration on development topics, and innovation partnership.

6 The researches of participants as presented during the training include a dengue diagnostic kit for early detection, a biomedical device to improve access to quality healthcare in far-flung areas, and shrimp-pathogen detection for shrimp farmers.

7 For his part, Dr. Carlos presented the concept of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) Innovation Technology Center (ITC). As proposed, ITC is envisioned to serve as an edifice to push the development of globally competitive agriculture and aquatic-based industries. When fully operational, the Center will provide the farmers, fisherfolk, researchers, students, and the general public an experiential knowledge that will help create a difference in agriculture and aquatic endeavors.

8 Known basically not only for generating valuable and productive technologies, coupled with its dynamic roll out strategies through effective technology transfer modalities, PCAARRD looks at the center as a repository of research and development outputs generated by the National Agriculture and Aquatic Research and Development Network.

9 The Center’s exhibition and information hub will serve as the Council’s One-Stop-Information Shop (OSIS).

10 DOST’s avowal of public service will once more take center stage as it celebrates this year’s National Science and Technology Week on July 24-28 at SMX Mall of Asia, Pasay City with Philippines: A Science Nation Innovating for Global Competitiveness as its theme.

11 Joining Dr. Carlos were the 15 LIF fellows namely: Gregory Ciocson of Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI); lawyer Marion Ivy Decena of the Technology Application and Promotion Institute; Roselle Martonito of the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development, and Russell Pili of the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development.

12 Other LIF fellows are Rowel Atienza of the Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute of University of the Philippines Diliman; Mark Pierre Dimamay of the Research and Biotechnology Division, St. Luke’s Medical Centre; Erwin Enriquez of Department of Chemistry and Program in Materials Science and Engineering, School of Science and Engineering, Ateneo de Manila University; Kristine Magtubo of the National Telehealth Center; Melina Palencia of the Chemical Engineering Department, Adamson University; Henry Ramos and Maricor Soriano of the National Institute of Physics, UP Diliman; Teodosia Merlin Suarez of the Center for Empathic Human-Computer Interactions College of Computer Studies, De La Salle University; Fidez Marciana Tambalo and Jocelyn T. Zarate of the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology UP Los Baños.

13 The training is expected to further equip PCAARRD in addressing its commitment under DOST’s Outcome One to provide science-based know-how and tools that will enable the agricultural sector to raise productivity to world-class standards.(PScijourn MegaManila)