Mining companies are urged to collaborate with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) when it comes to new innovations to help boost the industry and be more competitive, according to a DOST official.
Ma. Anya Yasmin S. Roslin, Head of the project management office of the DOST’s Science for Change Program, cited the Business Innovation Through Science and Technology Industry (BIST) program to facilitate such collaborations which will cover up to 70 percent of the total eligible cost of the needed technology without interest.
“Ngayon lang natin nakikita na what they really need is to handhold them in terms of proposal. That is I think one of their gaps kasi wala tayong problema sa kanila in terms of counterpart funding, pero hindi nila ma-access dahil lahat ng mga ganitong bagay is proposal driven. (We are already seeing that what they really need is to hold their hand in terms of proposal. That is I think one of their gaps since we don’t have problem with them in terms of counterpart funding, but they can’t access since these programs are proposal driven),” Rosalin was quoted in a BusinessWorld report.
Rosalin added that to stay competitive, mining firms should do research and development to see new innovations.
“What we discovered today is that there are numerous opportunities for collaboration that we have yet to explore. Clearly, mining companies have needs that we have to address. We have of environmental and social issues that can be addressed through R&D,” CoMP Executive Director Ronald S. Recidoro was quoted in a separate interview.
Recidoro noted that there should be combined efforts between the mining firms and the government to improve the mining industry’s reputation in the country.
“There is money, we just need to get that collaboration going and that’s what we plan to do starting next year,” he added.
