The Department of Science and Technology continues to nurture the youth and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMES) given their potentials as innovators and their important role in nation building.
They were the focus of the DOST-led CordiNNOVATION Week that aimed to foster public awareness and national support for innovation while highlighting the milestones of both government and private sector initiatives.
“We are excited to host an Info Expo for the Youth, recognizing their potential as the next generation of innovators and researchers. We aim to instill an innovative mindset in them early on by equipping them with the necessary skills and confidence,” DOST-Cordillera Director Nancy Bantog said.
“MSMEs are among the key drivers to economic growth, thus the lecture series aims to empower them with the necessary skills and insights to stay abreast of business and technological trends for better job creation and income generation in the region,” she added.
The Info Expo for the Youth centered on learning sessions on the DOST youth-focused innovation program, the Startup-Tailored Empowerment and People-focused Upskilling Project of the Department of Information and Communications Technology, the Young Farmers’ Challenge of the Department of Agriculture, and the Young Entrepreneurship Program of the Department of Trade and Industry.
The info expo for MSMEs featured government programs and services that aim to empower MSMEs to embrace technology and innovation and stay competitive. Lectures were on The Future of Artificial Intelligence and its Impact on MSMEs; Digital Farmers Program; E-Commerce Regulations, Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines Services and Incentive Programs, and DOST programs for MSMEs.
The CordiNNOVATION also featured research workshop and proposal pitching activity where teams from academic institutions and local government units in the region presented their research proposals to address identified issues on agriculture, food processing, water and waste management, local government unit processes and operations, among others.
Winning first place was the research proposal “Bean-to-Bite: Developing Legume-Based Noodles and Meat Alternatives for Kalinga’s Sustainable Enterprise” by the Benguet State University with the LGU of Lubuagan, Kalinga as partner.
Second place is “Mapping Agricultural Products Harvesting Optimized Development” by the Ifugao State University with partner Alfonso Lista LGU and third place is “Development of Smart Waste Monitoring System for LGU Santa Marcela” by the Apayao State College.
The Center for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technology also presented special awards to researches focusing on renewable energy, namely “So-Int: Solar Powered Internet Connectivity for Disaster Resilient Communication in Lagayan, Abra” of the Abra State Institute of Science and Technology; “Development of Smart Ways Monitoring System for LGU Sta. Marcela” of ASC, and “Bean-to-Bite: Developing Legume-Based Models and Meat Alternatives for Kalinga’s Sustainable Enterprise” of BSU.
The CordiNNOVATION Week is an annual celebration in the Cordillera organized by DOST and the Regional Research, Development and Innovation Committee of the Regional Development Council, in support to the National Innovation Day under Republic Act 11293 or the Philippine Innovation Act. – Carlito Dar with reports from TJ Ngaya and Fracheska Efre
