The DOST-Forest Products Research and Development Institute (DOST-FPRDI) was recently conferred the Excellence Award during Project HIRANG’s closing and awarding ceremony last 30 October 2020.
HIRANG stands for “Honing Innovations, Research Agreements and Negotiations of Government-funded Technologies”. An internship program under the DOST-Technology Application and Promotion Institute (DOST-TAPI), Project HIRANG aims to boost the skills, network and industry competence of Technology Transfer Officers in DOST’s Research and Development Institutes (RDIs). Among others, it focuses on valuation and licensing agreements, as well as commercializing developed technologies.
The DOST-FPRDI team is composed of Technology Licensing and Promotion Section Chief Ms. Grecelda A. Eusebio, Mr. Pedrito Q. Lontok, Mr. Carl Anthony O. Lantican, Mr. Rodell A. Papa and Ms. Maria C. Reyes. Eusebio received the Distinguished Fellow Award.
PCIEERD’s visiting expert Dr. Gonzalo C. Serafica and TAPI’s Engr. Lester Alfonso served as DOST-FPRDI’s HIRANG mentor and coordinator, respectively. Among the Institute’s accomplishments under the internship program were the preparation of technology valuations of the FPRDI wine barrel and bamboo flattening machine, and clinching of two licensing agreements for these.
Technology Pitch Forum
Meanwhile, two DOST-FPRDI researchers also bagged awards in the Luzon-wide Virtual Technology Pitch Forum organized under the Intellectual Property and Technology Business Management (IP-TBM) program of the DOST- Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD).
Engr. Wency H. Carmelo, Engr. Cesar O. Austria, For. Florena B. Samiano and For. Sheryll C. Micosa successfully “sold” some DOST-FPRDI technologies to potential adopters last 09 November 2020 via Zoom. Carmelo won 1st Place with her presentation of the FPRDI EcoDryer, while Micosa won 3rd Place with her pitching of Spalted Wood from Philippine Wood Species, Malapapaya [Polyscias nodosa (Blume) Seeman].
According to Eusebio, the IP-TBM Program intends to drumbeat technology transfer and commercialization efforts of various state universities and colleges, and RDIs. It also aims to invite partnership between technology generators and the private sector.
The Technology Pitch Forum was organized by the IP-TBM Program composed of Laguna Polytechnic University, Philippine State and Agriculture University, Western Palawan University and DOST-FPRDI. ### (Apple Jean C. Martin- de Leon, 12 November 2020)
