MANILA — The Philippines and Italy are set to forge scientific cooperation on numerous strategic areas, and signing might happen this month.
“As we continue to expand our STI (science, technology, innovation) international partnerships, we are keen on pursuing further synergies with Italy. (The) DOST (Department of Science and Technology) is hoping to maximize opportunities for its stakeholders through joint undertakings with (the) MUR (Ministry of University and Research) and its attached institutions,” DOST Undersecretary Rowena Guvera informed the Philippine News Agency in an interview Thursday afternoon.
The DOST, she stated, envisions to additional speed up the nation’s bilateral relations with Italy, not simply within the area of well being, but additionally in different strategic and customary areas of curiosity, similar to biomedical analysis; meals S&T; trend and textile; furnishings analysis and growth (R&D); biodiversity for local weather change; and quantum computing.
Guevara led the DOST delegation that visited key officers of MUR final April 29. Both events are joint R&D actions; capability constructing by scholar exchanges and workshops; scientific visits of consultants; and promotion of collaboration between scientific establishments and organizations of each nations.
She stated throughout the dialogue, each events agreed there can be no cross-border financing. The DOST will present the required funding for Filipino researchers, and the MUR will do the identical for Italian consultants.
Italy was recognized as among the many DOST’s precedence worldwide companions due to its portfolio and energy in STI.
“(The) DOST has been coordinating for the renewal of the 1969 Scientific and Technical Cooperation Agreement with Italy. Recently, with the diplomatic interventions of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Philippine Embassy in Rome, we were able to identify and touch base with our Italian counterpart — the MUR. We are looking forward to finalizing and forging the memorandum of understanding within May, as this would serve as the backbone of our collaboration,” she stated.
Recognizing Italy’s portfolio and energy within the area of STI, it was recognized as one of many Department’s precedence worldwide companions in 2017.
Strengths
Guevara identified Italy’s numerous strengths, and the R&D initiatives that DOST-attached companies might be taught from and collaborate with them.
In phrases of well being and biomedical analysis, Italy has been providing packages that target the sensible functions of biomedical sciences.
The European nation has established private and non-private healthcare amenities, analysis facilities, molecular laboratories, and is taken into account as the house of quite a few pharmaceutical corporations.
Italy additionally has a extremely succesful and dependable community infrastructure that responds to the particular wants of the biomedical group, selling analysis actions at nationwide and worldwide degree; and enhances and disseminates analysis outcomes, finest practices, and revolutionary concepts. (PNA)