DOST spent P375 M in R&D last year

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) spent some P375 million for research and development (R&D) last year in a bid to help improve the country’s economy through technology innovations.

In a report at the recent First National Conference on Intellectual Property and Technology Commercialization in Makati City, DOST Undersecretary Graciano Yumul said R&D received the biggest share in the P700-million budget for DOST’s grants-in-aid program in 2007.

A total of P175 million was spent for science and technology promotion and another P150 million for technology transfer and utilization, Yumul said.

Yumul said the DOST’s priority areas this year are biotechnology, information and communication technology, health and pharmaceuticals, environment, alternative fuels and agriculture.

“Intellectual property and technology transfer issues are increasingly becoming important,” Yumul said.

For his part, IP-Philippines director general Adrian Cristobal Jr. said universities and research and development institutes (RDIs) are now the country’s centers of innovation.

“Linking their innovations with the market will attract more investments, generate employment and enhance the country’s competitiveness,” he said.

IP-Philippines has provided basic orientation seminars and IP policy crafting workshops to 44 universities nationwide in the past two years, he said.  – Helen Flores