THE DEPARTMENT of Science and Technology urged universities to avail of the assistance the agency offers for the establishment of a research and development center.

“Each year, the DOST-Science Education Institute produces 400 to 500 MS and PhD graduates. This has been happening for the past five years. Thus, the human resources for Science and Technology have already been built and spread all over the country,” DOST Undersecretary Rowena Cristina Guevara said.

“DOST hopes that through its Science for Change Program, the disparity in R&D funding that used to be Luzon-centric will be overcome. The program also aims to give opportunities to other regions to pursue meaningful and impactful R&D,” she added.

Launched in 2017, Niche Centers in the Regions for R&D enables higher education institutions to make regional research by integrating development needs with existing R&D capabilities and resources.

Guevara said HEIs can submit proposals and those that will be chosen by the department will be provided with institutional grants for R&D capacity building and improvement of infrastructure.

She said that over 70 percent of the funding for niche centers goes to regions outside National Capital Region, CALABARZON, and Central Luzon.

The DOST official added that last May 18, the agency approved seven new R&D centers with P540 million allocation.

“These seven new NICERs tackle energy, water resources management and polymers. Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development evaluated and will monitor these projects,” she said.