PCAARRD’s program to support innovative agri-aqua startups gets a welcome boost with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) – Department of Science and Technology (DOST) – Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) signing of a Joint Administrative Order (JAO).

The JAO aims to push for the attainment of the objectives of the Innovative Startup Act or Republic Act (RA) No. 11337 to aid the growth of innovative startup companies and business ventures in the country.

These two related policies’ espousing for an innovative entrepreneurial culture will greatly benefit PCAARRD’s National Agri-Aqua Technology Business Incubation (ATBI) Program.

PCAARRD’s ATBI Program promotes innovation and technopreneurship in the agriculture, aquatic, and natural resources (AANR) sector. It supports the commercialization of mature technologies by nurturing and establishing viable agribusinesses under an ATBI system/facility, which hosts startups and provides business development services.

PCAARRD has established several ATBIs in the country in the last couple of years. The Council supports two ATBIs in SOCCSKSARGEN: Sultan Kudarat State University (SKSU) in Tacurong City and the University of Southern Mindanao (USM) in Kabacan, North Cotabato. It also supports ATBIs at the Central Luzon State University (CLSU) in Muñoz, Nueva Ecija and University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) in Miagao, Iloilo.

The SKSU ATBI, established in 2018, currently supports eight incubatees that have reportedly generated a total gross income worth P3,261,205.50 since enrolling in the ATBI.

The USM ATBI, on the other hand, was established in 2020 and supports four incubatees commercializing PCAARRD-funded technologies on in vitro culture of banana using floral apex and halal chevon processing.

The CLSU and UPV ATBIs are now in their phase 2 of implementation. CLSU has 39 incubatees and four enrolled in its acceleration program while UPV has 20 incubatees.

PCAARRD provided a total of P30.4 million for the four ATBIs.

 In 2021, PCAARRD has allotted another P30.1 million for the establishment of the ATBIs at the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) in Batac, Ilocos Norte and the second phase of ATBIs in Benguet State University (BSU) in La Trinidad, Benguet; Cavite State University (CvSU) in Indang, Cavite; Isabela State University (ISU) in Echague, Isabela; and Visayas State University (VSU) in Baybay City, Leyte.

Likewise, in January 2021, PCAARRD supported the first-ever co-incubation agreement among ATBIs to be situated at the Laguna State Polytechnic University Agri-Aqua Technology Business Incubator (LSPU-ATBI) in Los Banos, Laguna through the virtual signing ceremony of a memorandum of agreement.

The ATBIs of the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU) in Ilocos Sur and the Forest Products Research and Development Institute (DOST-FPRDI) in Los Banos, Laguna will serve as partner ATBIs that will share their respective technologies on chevon dishes in retort pouch and antimicrobial products made from tawa-tawa plant with local businesses.

In other parts of the country, the ATBIs of the Western Philippines University (WPU) in Palawan, Capiz State University (CapSU) in Roxas City, Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) in Zamboanga City, and Central Mindanao University (CMU) in Maramag, Bukidnon have 51 incubatees commercializing different technologies on aquaculture, fish processing, mushroom production, and ethnobotanical anthelmintics for poultry, among others.

These initiatives, as well as future efforts, are bound to gain with the DOST-DTI-DICT commitment to pursue and strengthen the implementation of the Innovative Startup Act.

Foremost in the benefits to be gained are added incentives and streamlining of government procedures to encourage establishment and operation of innovative new businesses that will strengthen, promote, and develop a conducive environment that fosters an innovative entrepreneurial culture in the country. The incentive will be through Startup Grant Fund (SGF) under each of the three departments to provide initial and supplemental Grants-in-Aid (GIA) for qualified startups and startup enablers.

With the policy environment to support startups in the country gaining momentum, DOST-PCAARRD will strengthen its commitment in ensuring that the AANR sector will be at the forefront of the startup business community through technical and funding support (Joel Eneristo A. Joven, DOST-PCAARRD S&T Media Services).

###

Agriculture, aquatic, and natural resources pubs available online via PCAARRD eLibrary

Publications in agriculture, aquatic, and natural resources (AANR) sector can now be accessed and downloaded online for free, through the efforts of two agencies of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

The eLibrary can be accessed via https://elibrary.pcaarrd.dost.gov.ph/.

The online library was established through a project of two DOST agencies: the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD) and the Science and Technology Information Institute (DOST-STII), “Accelerating DOST-PCAARRD Knowledge Network of E-libraries.”

Thousands of AANR-related publications that are funded by the Council and are packaged in different forms such as journals, books, articles, and theses, among others, can be found in the portal.

Together with the PCAARRD’s partners in the regions, the regional R&D consortia, the project will establish the network of eLibraries using the DOST-STII-developed Science Library Information Management System (SLIMS). Through SLIMS, the project will support the consortia in facilitating efficient organization, digitization, processing, and resource sharing of S&T resources in their base agency libraries among stakeholders.

Likewise, it aims to promote the knowledge hub to expand the user base of the eLibrary and create awareness of the publications it hosts.

This integrated effort among the Council, STII, and the consortia further intends to improve SLIMS’ features, expand eLibrary content, appreciate library skills and services, and develop a unified knowledge management system for advanced user experience, among others.

The result of this one-year intervention is anticipated to set the standard across library management systems across DOST and other government agencies.

These enhancements of the eLibrary form part of the PCAARRD’s Knowledge Management for AANR (KM4AANR) as well as the GALING-PCAARRD Program that center on an efficient and effective AANR S&T knowledge-sharing between the council and its knowledge network under the new normal (Pattricia Eliz M. Legaspi, DOST-PCAARRD S&T Media Services).

Upcoming Virtual Stakeholders Forum for the Pros of  3D Printing Additive Manufacturing 

March 24, 2021 – To showcase MATDEV Laboratory’s current and future activities on additive manufacturing (AM). The Industrial Technology Development Institute (DOST-ITDI) converge  the industry, academe, government, and non-profit organizations in a stakeholders’ forum to be held on March 25, 2021, 8:30 in the morning until 12:00 noon Philippines Standard Time via the virtual platform Zoom  Meeting. 

 “AM is where we might be soon as the rest of the world catches up on its use, which can edge out the competitiveness of our local businesses. Right now, most of our manufacturing firms are into subtractive manufacturing.” shared by  Dr. Annabelle V. Briones, Director ITDI.

AM is the technique being used by the MATDEV Laboratory to produce models and prototypes directly from three-dimensional (3D) computer-aided design (CAD) without using any tools or fixtures.  Funded by the DOST Grants-In-Aid Program, MATDEV Laboratory is a project under the Advanced Additive Manufacturing R&D Program.

The MATDEV Laboratory undertakes research and development on materials for use in additive manufactured products to reduce the cost of raw materials with local resources. Launched last December 22, 2020. 
Moreover since 80’s the AM has been in use in Japan. Invented by Hideo Kodama of the Nagoya Municipal Industrial Research Institute with two AM photopolymer rapid prototyping systems in 1981. 

Now, the AM process of making a product by adding successive layers of material is now often referred to as 3D printing. The difference between the traditional production methods or subtractive manufacturing that AM requires less hard tooling and assembly and offers bespoke manufacturing at easier time to market. 

AM ensures continual availability of spare parts, which is particularly useful in asset-heavy industries such as aerospace, automotive, and medical. In other countries, the use of AM is widespread in machineries like turbines, handling and robotics, lifestyle and sports like jewelry and biking, and custom parts of classic cars. 

DOST-ITDI envision that in the near future. AM can completely change the  landscape from products are designed and built, as well as distributed, sold, and serviced.

Subtractive manufacturing involves cutting away from a solid block of material. A milling machine cutting/hollowing out a piece of metal or plastic is an example of subtractive manufacturing. Subsequently , most of AM’s current users around the globe think that, “As it currently stands, it is unlikely that additive manufacturing will replace subtractive manufacturing any time soon.

This is because both sets of processes have a very contrasting set of pros and cons, meaning that each can play to the strengths of the other’s weaknesses.” “AM has been steadily growing a following, primarily because of its big market, which researchandmarkets.comreported at $12 billion in 2020.” cited by Director Briones. 

Currently, analysts at Global Market Insights, Inc. believe that the overall economic impact created by AM could reach $100 billion to $250 billion by 2025, “… if adoption across industries worldwide continues at today’s rate.” This huge potential is seen to come from the aerospace and defense, automotive, medical, and consumer goods industries manufacture locally.

Reference from AM Guevarra DOST-ITDI S&T Media Service Service./// MJ Olvina-Balaguer of DZMJ Online Makabuluhang Jornalismo your happiness channel +639053611058 maryjaneolvina@gmail.com or konekted@dzmjonline.net

Sputnik V receives FDA’s Emergency Use Authorization

The Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted emergency use authorization (EUA) to Sputnik V, one of Russia’s COVID-19 vaccines, today, 19 March 2021, as announced by FDA Director General Eric Domingo during the Department of Health (DOH)’s Special Briefing. Authorized for limited use among Filipino individuals aged 18 and above, the non-replicating viral vector COVID-19 vaccine was developed by the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology through the support of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF). Both Gamaleya and RDIF were identified by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), which chairs the Task Group on Vaccine Evaluation and Selection (TG VES), as one of its bilateral partners for the possible conduct of vaccine clinical trials in the Philippines.

The DOST-convened Vaccine Expert Panel (VEP) has reviewed the initial clinical trial data of Sputnik V, which served as one of the bases for the FDA’s approval of the vaccine’s EUA application. As early as August 2020, the DOST-led TG VES has been in contact with Gamaleya and RDIF, through the assistance of both the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Philippines, in terms of COVID-19 vaccine development, and more recently, in Gamaleya’s submission of the required documents to FDA for their EUA application.

The DOST welcomes this development as the country now has an additional approved vaccine in its portfolio for the National COVID-19 Vaccination Program. Office of the Undersecretary for Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (OUSECRD – DOST) ###