Manila: The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) will showcase some of the latest innovations in the 8th National R and D Conference from July 23 to 24 at the Manila Hotel. Stakeholders would attend but the public is invited to witness the technologies via the DOST and attached agencies’ official Facebook pages.
According to Philippines News Agency, DOST Undersecretary Leah Buendia stated during a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing that the event will feature plenary sessions highlighting the critical role of research and development (R and D) in the country’s development, as well as fostering international collaborations. In breakout sessions, the DOST will present R and D that could help science and technology-based entrepreneurs. There will also be an exhibit to showcase R and D outputs supported by the DOST.
“The DOST wants the public to see the bright future we could achieve through the help of R and D,” Buendia said in Filipino. The conference carries the theme “R and D Building Better Lives: Leveraging Transdisciplinary R and D for Well-Being, Wealth Creation, Wealth Protection, and Sustainability”.
Buendia noted that the event is in compliance with Section 19 of Article IX of Republic Act 10055, otherwise known as the Philippine Technology Transfer Act of 2009, mandating the DOST to conduct an annual national conference of all government funding agencies and research and development institutes. It seeks to promote transdisciplinary, joint and cross collaborative R and D; coordinate and rationalize the R and D agenda; and harmonize all R and D agenda and priorities.
Among the projects to be featured during the conference are ‘Tuklas Lunas’ projects on drug discovery and development with private pharmaceutical companies; innovative neuroscience research on the science of addiction and investigating the genetic epidemiology of X-linked Dystonia-Parkinsonism; sustainable polymers developed by the Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology.
Buendia expressed their aim to gather 600 participants as they also seek to foster collaboration with different government agencies. “We invite government agencies, industries and communities to discover the wonders of R and D,” she said.