The Department of Science and Technology shall hold the 2nd National R&D Conference on February 15, 2017 to harmonize the country’s research and development agenda and priorities for 2017-2022.

In this conference, DOST will present to stakeholders the final Harmonized National R&D Agenda 2017-2022. The final agenda, to be presented by Dr. Rowena Cristina L. Guevara, undersecretary for research and development, is based on the outputs of the 1st National R&D Conference held October 21, 2016.

DOST’s Councils – the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development; Philippine Council for Health Research and Development; Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development; and the National Research Council of the Philippines – as well as the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration and Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology will also discuss the call for R&D proposals for the following sectors: health; industry, energy, and emerging technologies; agriculture, aquatic, and natural resources; basic research; and disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.

During the 1st National R&D Conference, Secretary Fortunato T. De La Peňa identified 11 areas/strategies included in the R&D agenda, namely:

1. R&D to address pressing problems on health self sufficiency, food and nutrition, priority agricultural
commodities, transport and mobility, national security and human security;

2. R&D for productivity, responsible mining, and S&T for the creative, tourism and service industries;

3. R&D to tap and manage resource potentials (responsible mining, energy source, biodiversity and sustainable development);

4. R&D to apply technologies across sectors for our benefits (e.g. artificial intelligence and space technology);

5. Climate change and disaster risk reduction (PAGASA Modernization Law, technical advisory services, and disaster preparedness and risk reduction);

6. Maximize the utilization of R&D results through technology transfer and/or commercialization;

7. Assistance to the production sector (e.g. OneExpert, OneStore);

8. Upgrading of facilities and improvement of S&T services (Strengthening of R&D and S&T Services in the regions through infrastructure, facilities, human resource development and R&D funding);

9. Human Resource Development for science and technology;

10. Capacitate and utilize institutions in the Regions (SUCs who do R&D and develop human resources in S&T); and

11. Collaboration with industry, academe and international institutions.

More than 350 participants of the 1st National R&D Conference represented various agencies such as the departments of agrarian reform, budget and management, environment and natural resources, information and communications technology, health, and trade and industry, as well as the National Economic and Development Authority, private and public universities and colleges, national and regional research and development institutions, civil societies and non-government organizations.

Other participants included international R&D and funding agencies such as the Australian Centre for International Agriculture Research, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, World Food Programme, World Fish, and US Agency for International Development.

Said participants identified and agreed on the R&D priorities of the Philippines for 2017-2022 which resulted in the draft Harmonized R&D Agenda.

Said R&D Agenda is anchored on the Duterte Administration's 10-Point Socioeconomic Agenda and in line with the Philippine Development Plan tagged "AmBisyon Nation 2040."

The holding of both National R&D Conferences is consistent with the DOST mandate of providing central direction, leadership, and coordination of scientific and technical activities in the country.

Through the national research agenda, the DOST will unify all R&D projects and initiatives in the country, and ensure that results of these R&D activities will be used to improve the socio-economic conditions of Filipinos.

R.A. No. 10055 (Technology Transfer Act), Article IX, Section 19 provides that DOST shall regularly conduct national R&D conferences to gather all agencies of the government with R&D activities. (Framelia V. Anonas, S&T Media Service)