THE Department of Science and Technology-Metals Industry Research and Development Center (DOST-MIRDC) is gearing up to establish 10 additional Metals and Engineering Innovation Centers (MEICs) across the country including Davao which will be housed at the University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP), Obrero Campus.
According to DOST-MIRDC, the MEICs will provide opportunities for machinery and product prototyping, and enhance the creative capacity for knowledge and technology generation in every region.
In 2020, DOST-MIRDC established five MEICs across the country where the respective institutions implemented equipment and product prototyping innovations. Some projects are ready for presentation in technical and scientific fora and publication.
DOST-MIRDC said that State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) such as USeP are ideal hosts for the centers because they have the available space, human resources, and capability for sustaining the operation.
During the 2nd National Metals and Engineering Conference, a ceremonial signing of the Memorandum of Agreement was held among the DOST-MIRDC, DOST Regional Offices, and SUCs from Regions IV-A (Calabarzon), IV-B (Mimaropa), V (Bicol), VI (Western Visayas), VII (Central Visayas), VIII (Eastern Visayas), IX (Zamboanga Peninsula), XI (Davao), and Caraga.
DOST-Davao Regional Director Dr. Anthony C. Sales said that the project will strengthen the future R&D activities that are being conducted in the region and will also help increase the human resource in the fields of metalworking and related fields.
“The establishment of the MEIC at USeP will continue to propel the innovation ecosystem in Davao towards a prosperous future. We are very excited about the cutting-edge R&D and valuable networking opportunities that will come out from this,” Dr. Sales added. (DOST)