FIESTA provides opportunity for technology pitch

BALANGA CITY, Bataan – A university official here said technology generated through government funding should work for the best advantage of their targeted beneficiaries, provide the owner with the right incentive, and contribute to the country’s economic growth.

This in essence was the objective of the Technology Business Forum conducted by the Central Luzon Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development Consortium (CLAARRDEC), according to Bataan Peninsula State University (BPSU) Director of Research Development Office Dr. Hermogenes Paguia who acted as the facilitator of the forum.

The Technology Business Forum was among other important activities, which highlighted the consortium’s First Farms and Industry Encounters through the Science and Technology Agenda (FIESTA) held recently at Central Luzon State University, Munoz City, Nueva Ecija. The forum was attended mostly by private entrepreneurs as well as members and officials of cooperatives in Region 3.

FIESTA serves as a strategy to facilitate the flow of agricultural and aquatic food products from the farm to the market. It also enhances the flow of technology generated from government laboratories to the farmers as primary beneficiaries of research and development initiatives, added the university official.

For technologies with commercial potential, FIESTA also connects the technology generator with potential investors, who are willing to commercialize the technology.

Dr. Melvin B. Carlos, Officer-in Charge, Office of the Deputy Executive Director for Administration, Resource Management and Support Services of PCAARRD, explained some of the important features of the Technology Transfer Act of 2009 and its relation to the forum.

The said law, among other provisions, makes research and development institutions the owner of intellectual property rights arising from the results of government-funded research. This allows scientists to create, manage, or serve as consultants to companies that can commercially exploit technology arising from government-funded research.

Three CLSU inventors and an organic farm owner pitched for their respective inventions and services in the forum.

Paguia said CSLU presentors were  Dr. Edgar A. Orden for CLSU’s portable pelletizing machine;  Clarissa Yvonne J. Domingo for the RT Lamp Test Kit for Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea; and Dr. Ravelina R. Velaco for Pythoandrogen for the Development of Nile Tilapia.

Cynthia G. Tizon, owner of Charisma Farm in Pampanga, the only non-scientist who pitched during the forum, on the other hand, talked about partnership with nature through organic agriculture.