The Department of Science and Technology signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the US-ASEAN Business Council (US-ABC) to promote the development and implementation of science, technology and innovation initiatives of the government in the private sector.
According to a recent press release, the MOU between DOST and the Council will enable the Department to fast-track and strengthen collaboration between industry and government.
The Partnership
DOST Secretary Fortunato T. De La Peña shared that the Department welcomes dialogue and partnership with US firms.
Doing so will drive and enhance research and innovation across all sectors and build S&T capacities in the Philippines.
The forms of cooperation under the MOU were enumerated. These are:
- Information exchange on industry development initiatives
- Research programs
- Science-based decision making
- International approaches to transparency
- Standards-setting
- Technology regulation
- Technology transfer support
In addition, the MOU encourages commercialisation of research through start-up initiatives such as incubation and market needs assessment.
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will benefit from support in marketing and branding guidance, technology adoption, and connectivity.
The US-ASEAN Business Council
The signing ceremony took place during the Council’s 2019 Business Mission to the Philippines, an annual set of meetings promoting dialogue between U.S. private sector and the Philippine government.
The Council is a premier advocacy organisation of several top US companies.
Ambassador Michael W. Michalak, US-ABC Senior Vice President and Regional Managing Director said, “The Philippines’ innovation story deserves recognition and support along with its high economic growth trajectory.”
He shared that the Philippines broke into the group of innovation achievers of the Global Innovation Index for the first time this year.
The Council’s member companies hope to contribute even more to the innovation efforts of the Philippines and strengthen the country’s science-based policy-making and adherence to international standards.
The Council is excited to facilitate an internship-to-employment program under this MOU whereby the Department’s scholars can apply for career opportunities within the network of the Council.
#SPICEStoDOSTLabS
In other news, #SPICEStoDOSTLabS was recently launched to provide a venue for DOST research and development institutes (RDI) and stakeholders to hold demonstration, orientation, and dissemination of DOST laboratories and services.
#SPICEStoDOSTLabS stands for the “Strategic Promotion through Integrating Collaboration and Engagement of Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) to Support the Technology Transfer and Commercialization of DOST-Developed Technologies including Testing Laboratories and Services”.
As a series of laboratory visits, #SPICEStoDOSTLabS plans to introduce the premier laboratories of the Department.
ADMATEL is the first stop.
It is a testing laboratory equipped with advanced analytical equipment for failure analysis and materials characterisation including surface and thermal analysis, sample preparation, and external visual inspection.
This laboratory’s services provide accurate results as well as short turnaround time, at much lesser cost than commercial laboratories among private and government institutions.
The next #SPICEStoDOSTLabS will feature the premier laboratories of DOST-PTRI in October 2019.
The launching was attended by at least 75 participants from the industry, academe, and government sectors.
