Dubbed as “SETUP Forum and Awarding Ceremonies”, the Department of Science and Technology awarded the most outstanding micro, small and medium enterprises that were assisted under the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program during the celebration National Science and Technology Week.
SETUP is the banner program of the Department of Science and Technology which aims to strengthen the country’s innovation system by enabling MSMEs to address their technological requirements and limitations to improve productivity.
With the 20 years of SETUP implementation, DOST was able to provide S&T assistance to various MSMEs, resulting in significant improvements in their competitiveness. Among these interventions are acquisition of appropriate technology, technology training, consultancy and product development.
MSMEs were also assisted to address technical problems in their operations to standardize and improve quality of products and to capacitate staff.
These enterprises were also upgraded in terms of size and category, from microenterprise to small, from small to medium and medium to large.
“I urge you to unleash your creativity; do not just think out of the box, rather, break the box. Let us not be content with our laurels, let us Innovate, Collaborate and keep the fire in your synergies.” DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. said in his keynote message.
“Let us use the outputs of the scientific community to improve the quality of lives of the Filipino people,” DOST Undersecretary for regional operation Engr. Sancho Mabborang said in his welcome remarks.
The National Winner for PRAISE Award for MSMES is the JLM Farm from Cordillera Administrative Region. The award is given to the outstanding MSMEs for their efforts in searching for technical assistance from the different DOST RDIs and councils, through technology acquisition, technical trainings, technical consultancies and other services embedded in the SETUP.
This aimed to recognize the SETUP adapter who has excelled in managing and sustaining their business in terms of productivity, resilience, agility, innovativeness, sustainability and excellence.
The national winner for the Most Industry Ready or iReady Award for MSMEs is FilBake food Corporation from Region VI. The Most Industry 4.0-Ready Award or I-READY Award is given in recognition to MSMEs that are poised to adopt Industry 4.0 technologies in their operations.
The National Winner for ICON Award for MSMEs is ACT Machineries and Metal Craft Corporation of Region II. The ICON award is given to SETUP-assisted MSME which adopts Industry 4.0 technologies.
The selection criteria include the degree and extent of innovation related to Industry 4.0 technologies, value creation to the customer, value creation for the enterprise and change or transformation process.
The activity was graced by the chairperson of EVPI and former DOST Secretary Prof. Fortunato Dela Pena together with Dir. Melanie M. Moraga-Leano, chairperson of the board of judges, DOST regional directors Engr. Ernesto Granada of DOST VIII, RD Rowen Gelonga of DOST VI, RD Virginia Bilgera of DOST 2 and other regional directors and provincial directors.