Agwa from Israel, an AI-assisted indoor home vegetable-growing device (left) and Gul.AI a Philippine made mobile AI-powered plant growing system for optimum yield
DOST Undersecretary Leah J. Buendia presented DOST’s programs in 2023-2028 at the DOST Undersecretary Leah J. Buendia together with officials from DTI, DICT, PEZA, SEIPI and PTIC, and participants from the government and industry sectors
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST), in an effort to strengthen emerging technologies such as Semiconductor Manufacturing Services (SMS), Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, and Space Technology industry in the Philippines, presented engagement opportunities to scientists during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2023) in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA and Business Mission in Silicon Valley, San Francisco, California, USA from January 5-11, 2023.
CES is the most influential technology event in the world — the proving ground for breakthrough technologies and global innovators. This year, CES 2023 highlighted technologies on sustainability, digital health, metaverse, electric vehicles, transportation, and mobility from over 4,000 exhibitors thereby providing various insights and possibilities for the Philippines to utilize market intelligence and benchmarking.
The Philippine delegation, composed of the DOST, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), the Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Foundation, Inc. (SEIPI) and the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) sought possible partnerships with governments and key industry players through the Philippine Business Forum highlighting the country’s investment-ready environment. DOST participated in one of the fora, World Electronics Forum (WEF), where DOST Undersecretary Leah J. Buendia presented technologies and programs of the Philippine government which are at par with the emerging global technologies.
Technologies observed in CES 2023 include 1) SentiV from France, a scouting robot for monitoring field crops; 2) Agwa from Israel, an AI-assisted indoor home vegetable-growing device; 3) Land Evaluation Engine by satellite data and AI from Japan, an application for monitoring the lands of interest from space. Similarly, DOST Advance Science and Technology Institute (ASTI) has on-going project counterparts such as 1) Robot for Optimized and Autonomous Mission-Enhancement Response (ROAMER), designed for detecting banana plantation monitoring, 2) Gul.AI, a mobile AI-powered plant growing system for optimum yield, and 3) DATOS, an AI-powered engine land feature detection from satellite images. The striking similarity in the functions between ASTI’s projects and CES technologies demonstrate the relevance of its R&D activities and their potential to address society’s needs.
“Similarly, as we vision to continuously be abreast with countries with cutting-edge technologies, we explored potential investment opportunities and areas for cooperation particularly with startup companies and universities in Silicon Valley,” says DOST Undersecretary Leah J. Buendia. “We also recognize the importance of having a pool of experts in achieving this vision, hence we have the commitment of continuous knowledge transfer and developing our home-grown science and engineering workforce through the Balik Scientist Program,” she added.
The DOST is the lead government agency that provides central direction, leadership, and coordination of scientific and technological efforts and ensure that the results therefrom are geared and utilized in areas of maximum economic and social benefits for the people.
