By: Athena Colline L. Verdey, Jury C. Tabarangao, Rhoda Lyn H. Ramos, Ma Josefina P. Abilay
A Technology Demo Day was held in January 30, 2018 at the UP National Engineering Center, Diliman, Quezon City as a culmination to the 1st batch of the Technology Commercialization (TechComm) Workshop Program. The demo day was conducted to introduce new technologies developed by the SUCs intended to be useful solutions to the pressing needs of the industry.
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| DOST Undersecretary for Regional Operations Brenda Nazareth- Manzano as she speaks to the participants of the MIMAROPA Technology Demo Day |
The 1st batch of the TechComm Workshop was held in November 2016, headed by Dr. Luis Sison of UP National Engineering Center as a preparatory training for researchers preceding the actual commercialization of their research outputs. Their skills were reinforced through a follow-through training workshop which was held from November 2017 to January 2018. This served as an avenue to provide updates on the status of their technologies, and finally package their outputs ready for industry use.
Online and phone sessions were conducted since November 8, 2017 to prepare the researchers for their technology presentations. Through the Technology Commercialization Workshop Program, MIMAROPA SUC researchers are expected to increase their capability to deliver useful research outputs to possible users.
According to Dr. Abilay, the Technology Demo Day is an avenue for the researchers to showcase their research outputs to the private sector- who are prospective adoptors of those technology. She stressed that this event aims for university research to not sit on the shelf but be developed into useful products or processes through technology commercialization. The said Demo Day was also graced by the DOST Undersecretary for Regional Operations, Dr. Brenda L. Nazareth-Manzano. According to USec. Manzano, “In the next years, the government will be aiming to achieve its target number of registered intellectual properties and successfully transferred technologies. Hence, we will continuously engage in technology-intensive research projects and capacity building activities such as this Technology Commercialization Workshop Program.”
Eight (8) technologies ready for commercialization were presented to a panel composed of members of the industry and private organizations, LGU representatives, and other regional line agencies. The technologies presented are as follows: Bamboo Connectors (RSU), Cocoverm Organic Fertilizer (MSC), Trichogel Liquid Trichoderma (OMSC), Tiger Grass Pollen Remover (RSU), Marinduke Rootcrop-Breadfruit Coco Delite (MSC), Vacuum-fried Oyster Mushroom (MinSCAT), Calamansi Juicer (MinSCAT), and Bagoong Cubes (OMSC). The panelists shared their perspectives and expertise and provided significant inputs to further improve the technologies and to bridge them to potential industry investors.
The Demo Day was also graced by the managing director of the ABS-CBN Foundation, Ms. Gina Lopez, who shared about their newest project “Investments in Loving Organizations for Village Economies (I Love)” dedicated to assisting village communities achieve economic prosperity. Gina Lopez then encouraged SUCs to continue conducting research and developing technologies that are marketable and useful in their communities to help them flourish.