DOST launches 'Tuklas Lunas' in local universities

BAGUIO. A guest scrolls through a computer and mobile application developed by the University of the Cordilleras (UC) during the soft launching of the Innovation and Nurturing Space at Legarda, Baguio City on May 3. UC is one of the 20 National Higher Education Institution (HEI) grantees of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) HEI Readiness for Innovation and Technopreneurship Program. (Photo by Jean Nicole Cortes)
BAGUIO. A guest scrolls through a computer and mobile application developed by the University of the Cordilleras (UC) during the soft launching of the Innovation and Nurturing Space at Legarda, Baguio City on May 3. UC is one of the 20 National Higher Education Institution (HEI) grantees of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) HEI Readiness for Innovation and Technopreneurship Program. (Photo by Jean Nicole Cortes)

UP TO P100 million in grants are available for the development of technologies.

On Friday, May 3, Department of Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato Dela Peña led the launch of the “Tuklas Lunas” Development Consortium-Cordillera at the University of the Philippines Baguio (UP Baguio).

Dela Peña said the consortium between UP Baguio which hosted the program led by Dr. Roland Hipol and Ashlyn kim Balangcod, Saint Louis University led by Dr. Regina Hipol, the University of the Cordilleras (UC) and the Benguet State University (BSU) led by Engineer Louisa Pladio.

Various programs in the universities have all been funded by the DOST in the various partnership agreements including the Apayao State University.

The Tuklas Lunas is a project of UP Baguio, BSU, and Saint Louis University (SLU) for the documentation, standardization, and formulation of medicines from indigenous plants and microorganisms.

Dela Peña said the project covers different sectors including the agriculture sector which aims to develop technologies to be resilient and resistant to pests and the use of smart technologies now to improve agriculture as a whole.

Dela Peña also led the launching of the University of the Cordilleras (UC) Innovation and Nurturing Space which aims to provide business technology transfer opportunities among faculty, students, alumni, and the community.

“At UC, we launched innovation center wherein it’s operating as a business incubator for startup companies,” Dela Peña said.

The secretary said UC “has a strong (presence) in the area of information technology in the area of geographic information system and they focus on those technologies, they have startups and research projects based in that university.”

Dela Peña said SLU is comprehensive university so researches cover a wide range of areas in and launched its Convergent Resilient Technology Business Inductor program.

The DOST official added during the executive committee meeting that the agency is reviewing policies in giving of grants to ensure that resources are efficiently used for optimum results.

“We are also trying to meet requirements of the new Ease of Doing Business laws, so we try to live within a 40-day processing time, so that a proposal can be decided upon in 40 days,” Dela Peña said, adding priorities include National Harmonized Research And Development Agenda approved by the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda).

“We cover the different sectors like agriculture and aquaculture where the thrust mainly is developing new varieties resilient and more resistant to pests. We are also using smart technologies now to help our agriculture sector we are trying to get more out of our local species like our native duck, chicken and pigs because we think they are more resilient,” he added.

Dela Peña said drug development from local sources, including those under the sea, is being done with priority for biomedical devices to support patients in Intensive Care Units and those needed for rehabilitation.

Dela Peña added that the energy and technology sector is one of the biggest sectors for transportation and mobility is in focus and how to save energy with resources now for space technology development.

Trending

No stories found.

Just in

No stories found.

Branded Content

No stories found.
SunStar Publishing Inc.
www.sunstar.com.ph