DOST offers innovation program to NegOcc firms

BACOLOD City – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is urging enterprises in Negros Occidental to avail themselves of government-funded business innovation program.

Allan Francis Daraug, DOST-Negros Occidental director, said business establishments are encouraged to apply in the agency’s Business Innovation through Science and Technology (BIST) program.

“We encourage more local enterprises to apply as the program will boost their business operations,” he said.

Daraug noted five enterprises in the province have already applied for the program.

“The application must be sent directly to the DOST Central Office, preferably one week before the submission deadline,” he explained.

Under the BIST program, a 70-percent financial assistance will be provided to private enterprises through licensing of technology and purchase of equipment. The remaining 30 percent will be shouldered by the recipient-enterprise.

According to Daraug, the program aims to accelerate the innovation capacity of Filipino-owned companies or their consortium by encouraging the private sector to undertake Research and Development.

DOST said all proposals for technology acquisition submitted should be in line with priority industries including agri-processing, integrated circuit design, creative or knowledge-based services, information and communication technology, food and nutrition, environment and climate change, agriculture, fishery and forestry, semiconductor and electronics, renewable energy, industrial waste treatment, infrastructure and logistics, and manufacturing. (With a report from PNA/PN)