https://www.dost.gov.ph/

The Department of Science and Technology听(顿翱厂罢)听has听approved over P540 million in funds to support seven new research centers that will focus on development in the countryside.听

In a statement听released听on Friday, the DOST said that it听鈥approved seven new research and development (R&D) centers in the countryside through the Niche Centers in the Regions for R&D (NICER) Program.鈥听NICER is a sub-program under the agency鈥s Science for Change Program (S4CP) which aims to increase investment in R&D to boost the country鈥s innovation in the science and technology sector.听

The听recipients will receive a total of P540,497,681.20.听

The R&D center recipients and their respective funding allocations are the following:听听

  1. The Center for Vector of Diseases established by the De La Salle University-Laguna,听P26.5 million听
  2. The Center for Advanced Batteries created by the Technological Institute of the Philippines in collaboration with the University of the Philippines-Diliman (UP听Diliman),听P142.9 million听
  3. The Center for Sustainable Polymers led by the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology,听P107.8 million听
  4. The Smart Water Infrastructure and Management R&D Center created by the Isabela State University in collaboration with Cagayan State University and Quirino State University,听P77.2 million听
  5. The Coastal Engineering R&D (CoastER) Center led by Mariano Marcos State University with听UP Diliman听and Don Mariano Marcos State University,听P79.9 million听
  6. The Center for Lakes Sustainable Development will be established under the leadership of the Laguna State Polytechnic University in collaboration with听UP Diliman,听P53.2 million听
  7. The Center for Environmental Technologies and Compliance will be established under the leadership of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in collaboration with听UP Diliman听and Adamson University, P53.3 million.

Science and technology Secretary Fortunato T. dela Pe帽a said in a statement on Friday,听鈥凄OST-S4CP in funding R&D Centers, capacitates the regions to become innovation hubs…听By supporting R&D, we serve the academe, the local industry, and,听in turn, the country due to the entrepreneurial advancement provided to the local community.鈥听

Science and technology Undersecretary for R&D Rowena Cristina L. Guevara also said in a statement that the S4CP听鈥is a means to proportionately spread funding across all regions for capacity-building initiatives and securing partnerships across academia and industry members.鈥听听

There are 35 R&D centers in all 17 regions听of the country听under the NICER听program,听with听total funding of P1.7 billion. — Gillian M. Cortez听

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