Mariano Marcos
State University

DOST assesses MMSU’s readiness to develop and operate its KIST Park

By Jedd Bryant Boado

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST), through the Knowledge, Innovation, Science, and Technology Evaluation (KIST) Committee (KEC), visited MMSU on March 22-23 to assess the university's readiness to establish and operate its own KIST Park, the first in Northern Luzon.

The KIST Park is a dedicated area where research, technology, and business work together to promote innovation and economic development. It connects universities, industries, and government, supports research and development, nurtures startups and technology-based enterprises, and facilitates the commercialization of developed technologies.

Leading the KEC delegation is its Chairperson and DOST-Central Office Undersecretary for Regional Operations Engr. Sancho Mabborang, together with DOST-CALABARZON Regional Director and KIST Program Lead Ms. Emelita Bagsit, and DOST-Ilocos Region Director Teresita Tabaog. 

Other members of the committee include representatives from the DOST Central Office, DOST regional offices, DOST-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development, DOST-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development, DOST-Technology Application and Promotion Institute, Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte, and technical experts from the private industry.

During the first day of the visit, MMSU President Virgilio Julius P. Manzano, Jr., took the KEC delegation and Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairperson Shirley C. Agrupis on a tour of various advanced facilities of the university. These include the Science and Technology Park, Agri-Aqua Technology Business Incubator, Garlic Research Center, Functional & Nutraceutical Research Center, National Bioenergy Research & Innovation Center, Food Processing & Innovation Center, Coastal Engineering Research Center, and the College of Medicine’s Center for Cellular and Molecular Medical Research. Aside from this, they also visited the proposed site of the university’s possible KIST Park.

"These buildings and equipment demonstrate MMSU’s ability to develop and manage the KIST hub in the Ilocos Region. Once established, we will enhance our contributions to science and technology in the country,” said Dr. Manzano during a tour of MMSU’s facilities with the KEC delegation.

Meanwhile, talking to Dr. Manzano and the KEC delegation, CHED Chairperson Agrupis also expressed enthusiasm about the steady growth of MMSU in the building of research and innovation centers.

“We look forward to KEC’s approval of our proposal for a KIST ecozone that will surely benefit MMSU and the entire North,” Dr. Agrupis said. 

On its second day, a meeting and open forum were conducted by the KEC for MMSU to discuss its proposal to develop and manage a possible KIST Ecozone in the region. 

In the meeting, the MMSU delegation was led by Vice President for Administration and Finance Fides Bernardo Bitanga, standing in for University President Manzano, Vice President for Resource Generation and Management Bjorn Santos, Overall Coordinator of the Coordination and Function Teams and Director for Strategic Business Development Angelina Abrojena, Extension Director Marlowe Aquino, Innovation and Technology Director Armie Sabugo, Planning Director Sherlyn Nicolas, and Research Director Dionisio Bucao.

MMSU’s Lead for the KIST Park, Mr. Ericson Pambid, explained in detail the university’s KIST ecozone, such as its location, its functions, the buildings that will be built in the proposed site, and its roadmap for the future. He expressed hope that with the support of the KEC, MMSU can share its scientific expertise on a wider scale, serving communities not only in the Ilocos Region but the entire country.

“With the support of the KEC, led by Usec. Mabborang, MMSU hopes to scale up its strengths to serve our communities and position Ilocos Norte as a hub for innovation and sustainable development,” Mr. Pambid said.

After the proposal presentation, Engr. Mabborang, as well as KEC members, asked MMSU various questions regarding the proposed establishment of the KIST Park in the university. They outlined the strengths of the university as well as aspects that need improvement.

In response, Dr. Bitanga recognized that the university still has a lot of aspects to improve with its KIST ecozone proposal. However, he is optimistic that with the KEC’s support, MMSU can realize its goal of becoming the first KIST ecozone in the region.

“We present ourselves as an institution that is currently developing, and we recognize that there are things in our proposal that call for improvement. We are hoping that the KEC will assist us in those areas so that we can prepare ourselves for bigger opportunities in the future,” Dr. Bitanga said.

Aside from the meeting and open forum, the KEC delegation also paid a courtesy visit to the Local Government Unit of the City of Batac and MMSU’s research partner, the Adones Integrated Farm, located in Brgy. Payao, City of Batac, Ilocos Norte.

Once the KIST proposal is approved, MMSU will take the lead in Region 1 as a hub for science and technology, bridging the gap between the academe and the industry to deliver programs and projects that benefit the nation.