The Philippine Science High School System (PSHSS) held its first system-wide technology pitching Dec. 1 in Cebu, and featured 31 intellectual properties of PSHS scholars, teachers, and staff from its 16 campuses.
The event served as a platform for PSHS inventors and local entrepreneurs to come together and showcase cutting-edge technologies, engage in meaningful discussions, and explore potential collaborations, a press release said, adding it was held under the “Developing the Technology Transfer Capacity of the PSHSS”, which is a joint project of the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD), and the DOST-PSHS System, in collaboration with the Association of Patent Agent Qualifying Examination Professionals.
The pitching was divided into six clusters: Agri-aqua products/equipment, food products, transportation technology, medical and health technology, environmental technology (waste management and clean energy), and information and communication technology.
The agri-aqua products/equipment cluster included the Andap-buster: A Smart Watering Device to Combat Frost (Cordillera Administrative Region campus), Vertical Farming Plant Trough (CAR campus), Sagana: Sustainable Agricultural Gadget for Achieving Natural Pest Control and Abundant Harvest (Central Visayas campus), Nutrient Diet Feeds for Broiler Chickens (Ilocos Region campus), AquaMetrix: Project Fries Redefining Freshwater Morphological Analysis (Eastern Visayas campus), Aqua Refiner and Collector (Ilocos Region campus), Basella rubra (Alugbati) Ph Indicator (Western Visayas campus), Electrically Powered Fish Drying System (Zamboanga Peninsula Region campus), Banana Stem Fiber as Natural Textile (Western Visayas campus), and Watercolor Paper from Coconut Coir (Central Mindanao campus).
The food products cluster was comprised of Fermentation of Elephant Apple (Dilennia philippinensis) into Vinegar (Bicol Region campus), Novel Biofilms for Food Packaging Applications (Central Luzon campus), and Egg Noodles with Jute Leaf (Soccsksargen Region campus).
For the transportation technology cluster, the pitched innovations include Vehicular Collision Prevention System with the Use of a Hydraulic Pressure Switch (Bicol Region campus), Palikpik: Apparatus for Propelling a Boat Using a Soft-Bodied Fin Powered by Electricity (Calabarzon Region campus), Motolink: An Arduino-based Crash Sensor Communicator for Motorcycle Helmet Safety System with Immediate Incident Notification (Caraga Region campus), and Carbon Dioxide Filter for Motor Vehicles Exhaust (Mimaropa Region campus).
The medical and health technology consisted of Antibacterial Herbal Ointment using Mani-Manian (Arachis pintoi) Leaf Extract for Skin Diseases (Central Visayas campus), Curcumin (luyang dilaw)-based colorimetric paper sensing kit for chlorine level detection (Central Visayas campus), Adjustable External Middle Forearm Fixator (main campus), Hand Grip Control Device (Central Luzon campus), and Human Action to Peripheral and Interface Hands (Central Visayas campus).
The environmental technology (waste management and clean energy) cluster included Wood-Plastic Composite from Shredded Face-Mask and Coconut Lumber Flour (Calabarzon Region campus), Solar-Powered Smart Restroom Cleaning and Monitoring System (Southern Mindanao campus), Smart Trash Can for Measuring Fill Level and Decomposing Waste (Southern Mindanao campus), Trapping Device for Used Cooking Oil (Mimaropa Region campus), Purifier: Air Purification, Filtration, and Cooling (Central Mindanao campus), Eco-friendly Water Filtration System (Zamboanga Peninsula Region campus), and Device for Measuring Concentrations of Selected Greenhouse Gases (Eastern Visayas campus).
The information and communication technology cluster involved Bayad: A Connection-Adaptable Transaction System for Payments (Caraga Region campus), Logging System Using Token Code and Biometrics (Soccsksargen Region campus), and Human Action to Peripheral and Interface Hands (Central Visayas campus).
Dr. Rachel Luz Rica, campus director of the Philippine Science School-Central Visayas Campus, acknowledged the creativity of the technology inventors, while executive director Lilia Habacon of the PSHSS said she hoped that the pitched technology will spark inspiration, fuel innovation, and pave a way for a future where technology knows no bounds, the press release said.
DOST undersecretary Maridon Sahagun reiterated the department’s support to innovators for the pursuit of STEM and the benefit of society, while DOST Secretary, Dr. Renato Solidum Jr., expressed his admiration and excitement for the technology presented through a recorded message.
The panel of expert evaluators included Dr. Nerlita Manalili, managing director of Nexus Agribusiness Solution; Engr. Jesus Zamora Jr., regional director of DOST7; Engr. Tristan Abando, chief SRS of the Technical Operations Division of DOST7; Adrian Cruz, supervising SRS of DOST7-Cebu; Atty. Editha Hechanova, president of the Hechanova & Co.; and assistant professor Palmy Marinel Tudtud, Fablab coordinator of the University of the Philippines Cebu.
Members of the academe from the Benguet State University, Western Mindanao State University, Bohol Island State University, Southern Leyte State University, Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology, Cotabato State University, Romblon State University, and the Visayas State University Technology Business Incubator also joined via zoom.
Atty. Misael Costes of APP congratulated the inventors for their shared commitment of making the lives of Filipinos better, while director Noel Catibug of PCAARRD-Technology Transfer and Promotion Division branded the pitching group to be the “best so far”, and promised to forge a stronger partnership with PSHSS.
After the pitching event, the DOST delegation also opened the first Technology Licensing Office in the PSHS System, at the Acad 4 Building of the PSHS-Central Visayas campus. The facility aims to facilitate the identification, protection, and commercialization of innovative technology of the PSHS-CVisC community through strategies, such as licensing, partnerships, and startup creation. ||
