THE National Innovation Council (NIC) has approved 19 projects to tap into the government’s Innovation Fund, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda).
In a briefing in Malacañang, Neda Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said the 19 projects will draw P115 million from the Innovation Fund.
Balisacan said the Innovation Fund is a revolving fund that aims to strengthen entrepreneurship and enterprises engaged in developing innovative solutions.
“Innovation plays a critical role in our pursuit for sustained and accelerated economic growth and development, as it serves as a catalyst for raising overall productivity and elevating the quality of our goods and services,” Balisacan said. “Only through a collective national effort can we truly pursue and attain these goals for our future.”
The project that received the largest funding was the Grassroots Innovation for Inclusive Development (GRIND): Bringing Science and Technology (S&T) closer to the Margins, with P15 million. This is
a project of Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Region XI.
This was followed by four projects that received P7.5 million each. These include the Farmers Information and Technology Service Center (FITS) Innovation Program of the Provincial Government of Camiguin and the Information System on Transport Operation in Puerto Princesa (ISTOPP) of the City Government of Puerto Princesa.
The list of projects include the Building Roadmaps for Resilient Philippine Creative Cities of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Competitiveness and Innovation Group; and the Exploring and Mainstreaming the Use of Natural Water Treatment Methods to Improve Drinking Water Quality of the Department of Interior and Local Government Central Office.
Other projects that received over P7 million in funding are the Cavite Product Innovation Program for MSMEs of the Provincial Government of Cavite, which received P7.49 million, and the i-LINK: Integration of Localized Maritime Information Systems for a Comprehensive Nautical Knowledge Base of the University of the Philippines Diliman, P7.45 million.
The list includes the Naga City Startup Ecosystem Development Program of the Naga City Startup Ecosystem Development Program which received P7.45 million and the BARACO-Batangas Animal Movement Reporting Approach to Control Diseases of the Provincial Government of Batangas, P7.05 million.
Projects that received over P6 million were the Enhancing the Capacity of the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Technologies (ReSET) Center using Local Innovation for Smarter and More Resilient Community-based Renewable Energy Microgrids of DOST Region XI worth P6.76 million and the Pilot Testing and Commercialization of Micro Impeller Rice Mill of the Department of Agriculture (DA) Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization with P6.03 million.
Projects that received over P5 million were the Vizcaya Optimization of Incubation Centers for Economic Sustainability (VOICES) of the Provincial Government of Nueva Vizcaya with P5.575 million; and the Water Collection System with Treatment Facility at Brgy. Yabawon and Tan-Ag of the Municipality of Banton, Romblon with P5.73 million.
Projects with funding of below P5 million were the Establishment and Operationalization of Ilocos Norte MSME Incubation Center (IN-MIC) of the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte with P4.28 million; Implementation of Innovation, Science and Technology for Accelerating Regional Technology-based Development (iSTART) Program with Indoor Farming Technology of DOST Region VIII, P3.049 million; and Project SciNing-Cultivating Ingenuity, Creativity and Awareness through Experiential Learning, Innovations and Promotions of the DOST Technology Application and Promotions Institute, P3.8 million.
Other projects are the Industrial Designing and Finalization of Production Drawings for the Commercialization of BUHAWI of the DOST Metals Industry R&D Center, P2.289 million; Establishment of PCHRD Health Research and Technology Innovation Hubs (HeaRTNovation Hubs): Expanding the TEKI in Health Program among Health Institutions of the DOST Philippine Council for Health Research and Development, P2.62 million; and the Improvement of the Single Row Push-type Plot Seeder with Mechatronic Seed Feeding Device for Corn (Zea Mays L.) Field Breeding Experiment of the South Cotabato State College which received the smallest grant of P281,650.
“Majority of [these] sought to address the pre-commercialization and commercialization requirements of innovative products or services, the enhancement of innovation facilities and services, and the conduct of capacity-building activities,” Balisacan said.
However, Neda said six of these projects did not proceed: BARACO or the Batangas Animal Movement Reporting Approach to Control Diseases; the Pilot Testing and Commercialization of Micro Impeller Rice Mill; and the Building Roadmaps for Resilient Philippine Creative Cities.
Other projects that did not proceed are the Exploring and Mainstreaming the Use of Natural Water Treatment Methods to Improve Drinking Water Quality; Cavite Product Innovation Program for MSMEs; and i-LINK: Integration of Localized Maritime Information Systems for a Comprehensive Nautical Knowledge Base.
On Tuesday, Balisacan also said the Council has established 10 National Innovation Priority Areas under its Framework of the National Innovation Agenda for 2032.
These areas are Learning and Education, Health, Food and Agriculture, Finance, Trade, Transportation and Logistics, as well as Public Administration, Security and Defense, Energy, and Blue Economy and Water.