SME Conference: Response

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SME Conference Response August 14,
2008 Ateneo De Manila University Prof. Glen A.
Imbang COMSTE Faculty, Technology Management
Center UP Diliman
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Issues on an R D Academic Set-Up
Some thoughts for institutions Create a
supportive environment Endeavor to provide a
modicum of support, especially for the beginning
researchers Develop and maintain a functioning
facility Provide sanctions consistently Better
Human Resource Management
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Issues on Basic Education
There is a mismatch in the intended, implemented
and achieved curriculum. Reasons for Poor
Performance Lack of qualified Science and
Mathematics (S/M) Teachers Teacher Beliefs about
S/M and S/M teaching Content of S/M
Curriculum Large Classes School Resources Medium
of Instruction Principal Support Poor Quality of
Professional Development Programs Lack of Studies
on how Filipino students learn Hence, there is a
need to provide system-wide solutions to achieve
the vision/mission of SME Make every child a
reader by providing students with quality
textbooks and other reading materials Organize a
team to identify Core Concepts and Essential
Skills Enrichment Monitor/Evaluate Continuing
PDs Using the School-based Training Standards (UP
NISMED, DepEd, JICA, 2007) Extra Challenge Help
to move students and teachers from the approach
of I know to
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Issues on Science at the Tertiary and
Post-Graduate level
CHALLENGE to increase number of mentors who can
competently guide and direct PhD
students PROPOSED CHANGES (1) Decouple salary
grade scales from academic rank scales in UP. (2)
Allow the granting of tenure to non-Filipino
academics in UP. (3) Develop a realistic
depreciation policy of research
equipment (procurement). (4) Convert the DOST
into a purely ST funding agency. Phase out its
RD laboratories.
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Issues on Engineering Trends in various
countries show growing development of
international Engineering Registers Mobility and
Cross-border practice. Mutual recognition
agreements on academic preparation
(qualifications, licensure exams
etc.). International engineering
registers Competency based assessment Outcomes-bas
ed engineering education Three important
accords Washington Accord Dublin Accord Sydney
Accord
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Issues on a Technological Paradigm or
Trajectory Biotechnology Research and Development
in the Philippines Mostly based in
Universities Sponsored by Government Research
Institutes and the Private Sector Use of Biotech
tools in crop and animal bredding or
production Biopesticides Biofertilizers Animal
Health products Diagnostic kits Vaccines Tissue
culture of plants
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Genetic Engineering of Plants and Animals Use of
Molecular Markers in Plant Breeding Use of
Genetic Engineering or recombinant DNA tools in
crop breeding for development of better traits of
species Historically, technologies have been
transferred to individual companies through
retail, consultancies, and bulk sales to the
Department of Agriculture. However, recently,
technology transfer was more efficient if
licensing was incorporated in the system bringing
about commercialization of products. Commercializa
tion of products improved the quality and
fast-tracked the research pace of promising
technologies. Global competitiveness is seen
through building industries around research
centers. The UPLB Science Park is presently being
strengthened. Systematization of the evaluation
of the commercialization potential of UPLB
technologies Entrepreneurship is now being
emphasized and offered to students as a
Bioentrepreneurship course to students. Academic
programs are existing to support the
biotechnology sector. employed directly by
biotech industries
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Major Concerns and Suggested solutions Lack of
scientists Current government scholarship
programs should be enhanced and supported and
brain drain should be addressed. Lack of Strong
research base Increase and strengthen the
existing number of Biotech-capable institutions,
recruit new RD personnel, increase salaries of
researchers especially in the UP System, and
address the reduction in number of trained
personnel due to retirement and migration. Lack
of Scientific Business Managers Increase
promotion of entrepreneurship and introduction of
entrepreneurship courses to students of Science
courses.
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Low RD expenditures - Address the constraints
Inability to absorb released money, slow process
of grant evaluation and release, and highly
bureaucratic and expensive purchasing system in
the government. Traditional education systems do
not foster innovative and creative thinking
Strategic changes in science education through
discovery- and inquiry-based methods of teaching
in the basic levels will bring about building of
a culture of science among the Filipinos. Lack
of appreciation or understanding of intellectual
property rights Continuous promotion of IP
through seminars, lectures, and trainings and
incorporation of IP to the curriculum of science
degree students as a subject. Lack of venture
capital Venture capitals should be supported
and initiated both by the government and the
private sector. Weak industry-academe-government
liaison There should be more interaction among
Industry-Academe-Government and build a strong
technology commercialization office in the
University. Bioindustry should be developed by
the Export Development Council to focus on
agri-biotechnology and health bio-industry. Target
s of the Biotechnology Research and Development
Sector Increase the number of high caliber
scientists Increase the number of
commercializable biotech products Increase money
generated by biotech products annually Increase
the number of people
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Science Technology Engineering
Industrialization 18th century
Progress
Science develops technologies
industrialization economic development
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Collaboration Models Flexibility or Hindrance
A
I
G
1.
I
U
G
2.
G
3.
U
I
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5.
Government
Academe
Industry
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Industries
Academe
Principal producers Of new technologies /economic
growth
Principal Producers of Scientific Progress
Core Technologies/ Technological Systems
New Technoilogy/ Technological System/ Technologic
al Culture
Government
Principal Sponsor of Science
Someone has to look at These events and entry
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Collaboration/Partnership ----------Effective???
??? Not always been effective!!!
Rethink Reanalyze Reengineer
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• Some Issues on Industry and Scientific Progress
• Industry uses technology directly for production
  and not science.
• Industry needs new science only directly when..
• New basic technologies need to be created for new
  science.
• Technological progress in existing technology
  cannot be made without
• a deeper understanding of the science undergoing
  the technology.

• University and not industry is the primary
  performer of science progress
• Industry look to the university for progress in
  science

• Industry looks for universities for new science
• Science is provided in forms and time frames, not
  directly used by industry

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• Some Practical Issues
• How??
• Firms use universities to stay technically
  competitive
• Rapidly changing S T
• 2. Funds
• From Industry and Government
• Appropriate
• Timely delivery
• 3. Government
• Best direction for its R D support
• Mutually beneficial and productive partnership
  between
• Universities and Industries

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Performance Matrix of Industry-Academe-Government
Collaboration
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• 1. What is a Filipino Scientist/Engineer/Technolog
  ist???
• Academe
• Industrialist
• Government Worker
• Policy Maker
• Integrator
• .???????
• What will be the overarching framework in which
  the scientist will move??
• 1. Support
• 2. Core
• 3. Societal

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Thank you.