MANILA – Binuksan na ng Department of Science and Technology (DOST) ang kauna-unahang “innovation hub” sa Pilipinas.
Nitong araw nang pasinayaan ng Science department ang inagurasyon ng Modular Multi-Industry Innovation Center (MMIC) o “InnoHub” sa loob ng DOST Complex, Taguig City.
Ang DOST-Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI) ang mangangasiwa sa operasyon ng bagong pasilidad.
Kabilang ang InnoHub sa mga proyekto ng Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD) na sinuportahan ng kagawaran.
Dalawang taon ang inabot bago na-establish ang pasilidad.
Layunin ng MMIC na suportahan ang tumataas na demand sa paggamit ng “by-products” bilang pangunahing materyales sa paggawa ng mga bagong produkto.
“MMIC is a devoted facility for advance scale up researches on food and nutraceutical using by-products such as pills, tout, and leaves as starting materials,” ani DOST-ITDI director Dr. Annabelle Briones.
Kahanay na ng Pilipinas ang mga bansang Canada, Malaysia, at Mexico, na mayroong pasilidad para sa mas malakas na pag-aaral sa mga pagkain at nutraceutical products.
“With the MMIC, we could generate new and innovative food ingredients, natural beauty products, and nutritional supplements with improve and efficient processes,” dagdag ni Briones.
Mayroong tatlong processing lines ang MMIC para sa nut and seed oil, mixed blend powders, at liquids and emulsions.
Ayon kay Dr. Norberto Ambagan, chief ng Food Processing Division, tinatayang 38-product prototype na ang kanilang nagawa sa tulong ng tatlong MMIC product lines.
“Product samples include calamansi oil, pili pulp oil, sprayed dried herbal teas, sauces, and even toothpaste.”
“We envision this facility to cater to food, dietary food supplements and personal care products.”
Bukas ang iba’t-ibang pasilidad at serbisyo ng MMIC para sa mga interesadong industriya.
“Industries can avail our facility at a minimum cost; consultation services from competent ITDI staff; can adapt development technologies; and contract research,” ayon kay Chemicals and Environment Division (CED) officer-in-charge Engr. Apollo Victor Bawagan.
Ayon kay DOST Sec. Fortunato dela Pena, marami pang programa ang inilaan ng kagawaran para makatulong sa iba’t-ibang sektor.
Kabilang na rito ang mga programa para sa mga young entrepreneurs at innovators, “start-up” companies, at mga exporters.
“Kami at the management, (we also) saw to it na yung ating mga research and development institutes ay ika-nga (may) state of the art facility din.”
