THE Department of Science and Technology (DOST) urged industries to collaborate with the academe in building technologies and addressing problems.
"We want industries and academes to collaborate to come up with solutions to problems with innovation," DOST Secretary Fortunato dela Peña said in a press conference before the opening of the Regional Invention Contest and Exhibit (Rice) 2019 at the SMX Convention Center, SM Lanang Premier in Davao City Monday, October 28.
He cited as an example the latest collaboration between Hijo Plantation and the University of Southeastern Philippines where the students came up with a technology that sends early warning signals of possible banana infestation.
The collaboration was made possible under Collaborative Research and Development to Leverage Philippine Economy (Cradle), one of the flagship programs of the science and technology department that seeks to link industries and academe for them to come up with inventions for their specific concerns.
Cradle has established 18 partnerships in the areas of agriculture, agri processing, aquatic and related industries, electronics, semiconductors, waste management, information and communication technology and health in the country.
In 2019, Dela Peña said they have allocated a total budget of P85 million.
He said interested industries must only send a proposal and choose their partner university.
The Regional Invention Contest and Exhibit 2019 (Rice) focused on inventions and innovations that seek to address economic, environmental, and societal problems.
"Here in Mindanao, we make sure [that] our programs and projects including this regional inventions exhibit, highlight the role of science and technology in addressing the three Ps: people, planet, and profit or the economy, society, and environment," DOST-Davao Director Anthony Sales said.
Meanwhile, the Rice 2019 drew 37 contestants and exhibitors composed of students, non-government organizations and private individuals.
"There are some exhibits that look at mitigating the effects of pollution in the environment. There are exhibits that look at increasing efficiency of certain operations in businesses," Sales said.