SCIENCE-BASED SOLUTIONS. Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Dr. Renato U. Solidum Jr. speaks before research organizations, and private and state universities and colleges in Iloilo City for the 2023 Visayas cluster call conference in preparation for the 2025 call for proposals and Council Grants-in-Aid program on Thursday (Feb. 16, 2023). He said DOST is eyeing to ensure that they provide science-based solutions to real problems in the real world through research. (Photo courtesy of Hope Torrechante)
ILOILO CITY – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is calling on the academic sector to conduct research that can give science-based solutions to the concerns of Filipino industries.
DOST Secretary Dr. Renato U. Solidum Jr., in an interview on the sidelines of the 2023 Visayas Cluster Call Conference held in a hotel here on Thursday, said they would like to lay down the department’s priorities.
The conference is a "venue for them to discuss research and development priority areas, requirements, and evaluation process, among others, in preparation for the 2025 Call for Proposals."
“People already know what these different strategic areas are for funding. But starting this year, we really convince state colleges and universities, private colleges and research organizations that what we need in the scientific community is to be able to translate what we produce as innovations or applications or services towards four major themes, which will be aligned to the President’s socioeconomic agenda and the long-term vision that we will have in the country,” Solidum said.
The research is expected to focus on well-being, wealth creation, wealth protection, and sustainability.
The DOST is looking forward to gathering the research, which will be funded by the agency and the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development, Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development, Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technologies, and the National Research Council of the Philippines.
Solidum added that while the conference is in preparation for the 2025 call for proposals and Council Grants-in-Aid program, it is important that they have a lot of proposals in their system so that when one project is not implemented, they could readily transfer the funds to other projects.
He said they would choose project proposals that are “important and aligned (with) our priority and will create an impact right away.” (PNA)
