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PH, Japan, UK to collab on 3 SDG-related projects

By Ma. Cristina Arayata

December 4, 2020, 6:49 pm

MANILA – The Philippines, Japan, and the United Kingdom will collaborate on at least three projects with the sustainable development goals (SDGs) theme, an executive of the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) said.

In an interview with the Philippine News Agency on Friday, PCIEERD executive director Enrico Paringit said this will be a tripartite of researchers from the three countries. Under the Science, Technology and Action Nexus for Development (STAND) call for proposals, each country will select and fund three project proposals with the same theme, and researchers will collaborate on these projects.

"Researchers will collaborate with their foreign counterparts towards achieving their research goals. This way, our resources (would) complement each other. Our common priorities would be met and not just one's interest," he said.

Paringit said the call for proposals started last Nov. 3 weeks before the scheduled online launching of STAND this month.

The three countries' partnership for STAND, he said, was a result of a workshop held in Boracay in 2019.

According to the website, ukri.org, Southeast Asia was chosen as a core region of mutual interest for both Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) "suggesting ample opportunity for cooperation”.

One result of the mapping exercise was that the Philippines emerged as having the highest number of overlapping projects, and so the DOST also joined the initiative."

Attendees from the Philippines were researchers working on SDG-related projects or research.

"The call for proposals also serves as a reminder for the workshop attendees to submit their joint proposals," Paringit said.

He clarified that the call for proposals is open for anyone, "but those who attended (the workshop) will be in a better position to formulate proposals".

Paringit also clarified that they can only approve proposals that have the same theme or topic with the counterpart researchers.

The Philippines would give a maximum of PHP5 million funding for every approved proposal. UK and Japan will provide funding for their researchers.

"JST, UKRI and DOST are all research funders that focus on resolving global challenges. Working in partnership offers the opportunity to increase the impact of our investments in research funding, people, equipment, data, etc.," he said.

Interested researchers may visit pcieerd.dost.gov.ph/eforms/call-for-proposal-forms for further details and guidelines. Proposals may be sent via dpmis.dost.gov.ph until February 10, 2021. (PNA)

 

 

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