BUSINESS is the lifeblood of a progressive society. With it generates JOBS that give LIVELIHOOD to people. Since the OLDEN times people usually cling on to business In a bid to avert famine and to improve the quality of life.
In our MODERN time, it still is the breath that gives life to an ailing post pandemic economy. Meanwhile SCIENCE is the result of the eagerness of people to uplift themselves from the ancient ways and with its TECHNOLOGY being the driving force behind the boost in the economy, INNOVATIONS usually occur to keep up with the changes of the times making the science relevant and able to help more people.
Most often science and business doesn’t meet up. But when these two forces come together the benefits are endless and beneficial to all.
In the recent days the Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) held an assessment on their program aimed at connecting the business and science to pave the way for a science based business climate in the country, introducing how the science can help business and awareness of science’ contributions to the sector.
The 19 episode talk show format program entitled “TEKNEGOSHOW”, where they showcase homegrown technologies and solutions for industries best suited to further its advancements, creating new products and assuring quality that can be at par with international standards for the global market.
They had been inviting resource persons from the industry and get to introduce various technologies newly created that are currently needed in a bid to propel the growth of the business sector in particular and the economy in general. The initial season of TEKNEGOSHOW o TNS is over and an assessment in the part of www.diaryongtagalog.net being one of the invited PRESS at the virtual activity says a POSITIVE comment and RECCOMMENDING for the project’s CONTINUATION.
It has been shown at the two largest social networking sites. On YOUTUBE and FACEBOOK, and indeed it has BEEN EFFECTIVE partly in DELIVERING its MESSAGE to the PUBLIC but we have to remember the fact that NOT ALL Filipinos has a facebook account and not all are viewing the videos on youtube because the TRUTH is there are still places in the country which doesn’t have supply of ELECTRICITY, no ACCESS to smartphones and the SIGNAL and CONNECTION to the INTERNET is VERY SLOW.
With it, if what we understand it right here in this newspaper indeed it is true which was according to the inputs from the people of ITDI there are still a lot of technologies that can serve as topics for a succeeding episodes.
In the assessment some participants says that facebook is the new NEWSPAPER, maybe true and youtube is the new TELEVISION can also be true but we also need to remember that most posts in these platforms are considered FAKE NEWS and people only use them for their entertainment value and were not taken seriously ergo serious and relevant content like the TNS cannot be associated with it.
While www.dzmjonline.net recommendation is that to stream the TNS content to other social networking sites in order to get a larger audience in various sectors and demographics meanwhile the people of ITDI should strengthen the collaboration between the Science and Technology Information Institute (STII) because it still is the DOST’s official communications arm..
Because of the TNS’ format is a talkshow, it is befitting to be aired on TELEVISION, at PTV perhaps or others because we have to accept the fact that people still believe that the MAINSTREAM media like television, RADIO and the newspapers are the primary sources of credible and relevant news and information.///Mj Olvina-Balaguer, 09053611058, konekted@dzmjonline.net at maryjaneolvina@gmail.com DZMJ Online “Makabuluhang Jornalismo, Your Happiness Channel”
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United Nations Philippines consults DOST to strengthen South-South and Triangular Cooperation
Screenshot image of Dr. Deol (L) and Asec. Buendia (R) during the virtual consultation meeting.
On 27 August 2021, Dr. Harnik Deol, the Lead International Consultant on South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) of the United Nations in the Philippines met with Assistant Secretary Leah J. Buendia of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to discuss and identify the strategic opportunities of the country in science, technology, and innovation (STI).
The United Nations aims to set up a South-South and Triangular Cooperation facility. Based on the 2019 UN Conference on South-South Cooperation, Member States have urged the United Nations development system to “enhance assistance for developing countries and to act as an enabler in seeking or facilitating potential cooperation partners in several strategic areas, in line with national development priorities, as well as to continue to support regional and subregional organizations in promoting sustainable development practices“.
Asec. Buendia and Dr. Deol discussed the Philippines’ strengths in science, technology, and innovation (STI) such as food processing and innovation, agriculture, and waste management. Asec. Buendia mentioned the various priority areas of the DOST in accordance with the DOST Agenda 2017-2022 such as health sufficiency, food and nutrition, agriculture, biodiversity, transport and mobility, industrial manufacturing, creative industry, renewable energy, OneLab, and OneSTore.
Dr. Deol, on the other hand, mentioned that the Philippines can also benefit from SSTC and asked about the preferred modalities of cooperation of the Department and areas where it can explore more. For her part, Asec. Buendia identified that the country can learn more on artificial intelligence (AI), industrialization/Industry 4.0, and nuclear science research, especially for medical applications. Dr. Deol, upon hearing this pronouncement, expressed optimism about the possible future collaborations.
In closing, Asec. Buendia reaffirmed that the DOST will remain committed to contribute to the success of the UN’s initiative in SSTC and the Department will continue to cooperate with the UN Country Team in the Philippines to establish the SSTC facility.
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Philippines’ young innovators to advance at 3M’s innovation pitching competition, DOST officials served as judges
DOST Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña and Assistant Secretary Leah J. Buendia were invited by 3M Philippines, Inc. to serve as judges at the Country-Level Semi-Finals of the 3M Inspire Challenge held virtually on 24 August 2021.
The 3M Inspire Challenge is an inaugural competition that aims to hunt for/inspire great ideas in Innovation, Sustainability, and Technology while supporting the next generation of great leaders, thinkers, and creators and will run from 23 April to 21 September 2021. The competition is open to students from all courses of study in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, and Vietnam.
The Challenge is divided into two stages. The first stage or country-level semi-finals will be a competition among local teams and the winner will be awarded the title “Country Champion” with a cash prize amounting to USD 1,000 and internship offerings at local 3M offices. The second stage or the regional-level finals will be a face-off among the Country Champions. The winning team will be crowned as the “Regional Champion” and will receive a USD 2,000 cash prize.
In the Country-level Semi-finals in the Philippines, Team “3MPHANT” from the University of the Philippines Diliman bagged the award with their Hyacinth-esized Packaging which is a non-toxic, pro-marine-life compostable plastic made from water hyacinth. Team 3MPHANT faced-off against two teams: Team XVR from Ateneo de Davao University and Team Ad Astra from Ateneo de Manila University.
Team 3MPHANT will advance to the second stage and is set to compete against other winning teams from Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore.
Seeing the young generation of teams compete, Secretary de la Peña is hopeful of a bright future for the Philippines’ science, technology, and innovation. “Fuel your creativity, do not stop innovating, and keep on inspiring and being inspired,” the DOST Secretary told the students in his welcome remarks.
Reggie Pulumbarit, the Country Leader of 3M Philippines, Inc. thanked both Secretary de la Peña and Assistant Secretary Buendia for accepting their invitation. He mentioned
that their participation as judges and the questions they raised during the live panel would also serve as guidance to the teams as they head on to their next venture – may it be to the Regional-Level Finals for Team 3MPHANT or to other competitions and studies for all of the teams.