DOST researchers win P1.3 million in total prizes for published studies

MANILA, Philippines – Several researchers of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) on Thursday, Dec 1, won over P1.3 million in cash prizes for their researches published in international journals.

The researchers were winners of the 2016 Intellectual Property (IP) Award for International Publication and IP Award for Utility Model (UM) – awards given by the DOST and the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) to incentivize science and technology research in the Philippines. The awarding ceremony was held at a hotel in Pasay City.

Researchers from the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (DOST-PNRI) won P660,000 for 11 studies; researchers of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) garnered P600,000 for 10 researches. Other recipients are from the Forest Products Research and Development Institute (DOST-FPRDI) who got P60,000 for one published study. Each published research is worth P60,000 for the researchers. Innovators from the Industrial Technology Development Institute (DOST-ITDI) received P30,000 for two UM Registrations of two technology innovations; PNRI has one UM Registration worth a prize of P15,000.

As the top awardees, PNRI won as “Best Institute” for International Publication while ITDI got the “Best Institute” award for UM Registrations.

DOST Secretary Fortunato dela Peña took advantage of the occasion to emphasize the urgency of raising the number in the publication of researches in reputable international journals. “This is a very good initiative,” he said, referring to the IP and UM Awards. “We are in desperate need to increase our publication,” the DOST chief said.

Dela Peña said researchers should take into account the six “Ps” when conducting research: product, patent, publication, people, partnership, and policy.

History of the awards

In 2013, the DOST and the NAST PHL started providing incentives for researchers whose studies are internationally published. ​The award falls under the DOST-funded project dubbed “Evaluation and Improvement of the Research Publication and IP Productivity of the DOST Research and Development (R&D) Institutes.”

DOST has 7 R&D institutes. Along with the aforementioned winners, these are the Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI); Metals Industry Research and Development Institute (DOST-MIRDC); and Philippine Textile Research Institute (DOST-PTRI). 

Eufemio T. Rasco, Jr., chairman of NAST PHL, Agricultural Sciences Division, said the DOST Intellectual Property Award’s implementation is through NAST PHL under the program called “Research Upgrading and Performance Evaluation.”

National Scientist Dr. Lourdes J. Cruz heads the program as project leader as well as chairperson of the Board of Judges​. DOST has intensified the efforts towards the development and improvement of the quality of R&D projects in the country, including monitoring and evaluating the results of R&D initiatives which is supported by NAST PHL.

“It also envisions the improvement of the pool of scientific knowledge to help advance science and technology (S&T) in the country,” ​said Rasco at the event. Meanwhile, he took time to remind the re​sear​​chers and inventors that part of the goals of giving the incentives is to multiply the DOST’s R&D outputs.

Making the selection

Those who are interested in being nominated for the IP Award should make sure they put “DOST​”​ or ​”Department of Science and Technology, Philippines​” as their affiliation. Among the requirements for the award, he said, are that majority of the research should have been conducted in the Philippines and that the author or authors are currently or formerly affiliated with the DOST or any of its agencies.

While conceding the importance of the IP Award, Rasco, nevertheless, looks forward to the day when there is no need to reward researchers for performing their job.

Dela Peña called the researchers attention that merely conducting research is not enough, stressing that “it is also a researcher’s responsibility to disseminate research results through publications in reputable journals.” He said DOST is “encouraging researchers to publish internationally and our technology generators to register their inventions not just for our organization but also to increase our country’s competitiveness in this age of globalization.” – Rappler.com

Edd K. Usman is a veteran journalist who has covered the DOST, PCSO, TESDA, Muslim Affairs and the police beat. For a long time, he worked as a senior reporter for Manila Bulletin before eventually delving into freelance writing.