GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/24 July) — The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in Region 12 has started its preparations for the regional inventions showcase and competition slated here in October.
Dr. Zenaida Hadji Raof-Laidan, DOST Region 12 director, said Monday the event will feature anew various top scientific and technological innovations developed by inventors, researchers, manufacturers and other enthusiasts from parts of the region.
Dubbed Regional Invention Contest and Exhibit (RICE), the annual activity will be held on the third week of October at the KCC Mall Convention Center here.
She said a number of inventors and researchers have already signified to participate in the showcase, which is the qualifying round for the National Invention Contest and Exhibits (NICE).
She said they have set the deadline for the submission of entries for the competition from interested groups or individuals on Sept. 18.
The official said the inventions showcase and competition is open to amateur and professional inventors within the region’s four provinces and five cities.
Region 12 comprises the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and North Cotabato, and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and Cotabato.
She said the regional competition will feature six categories: invention, utility model, industrial design, creative research, research for high school students, and creative research for college students.
Laidan said three top winners, who will receive citations and cash prizes, will be chosen per category.
The first placer will represent the region in the NICE that will be held in Manila next year, she said.
The annual invention contest was launched by the DOST to support Republic Act 7459 otherwise or the Inventors and Invention Act of the Philippines.
Supported by the DOST-Technology Application and Promotion Institute (TAPI), Laidan said the 2017 RICE will gather inventors in Region 12 who wish to highlight their ingenuity and craft through their research breakthrough and locally developed creations.
“It provides opportunities for researches to qualify for Intellectual Property Right Assistance Program of TAPI as well as for promotion and commercialization,” she added. (MindaNews)