DOST hands over Metals and Engineering Innovation Center to Ifugao State University to advance innovation in the Cordilleras
LAMUT, IFUGAO, 7 August 2024 – Local businesses, students, educators, and researchers in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) can now explore opportunities for invention and innovation through the technologies available at the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-funded Metals and Engineering Innovation Center at Ifugao State University (IFSU) Lagawe Campus.
Leading the handover ceremony is DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr., who emphasized the transformative potential of the Innovation Center. “This Center will provide our engineers, researchers, and industry professionals with access to advanced tools, facilities, and expertise… It will also serve as a collaborative platform where ideas can be exchanged, solutions can be developed, and new technologies can be incubated.” said Sec. Solidum.
DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. delivering his speech.
The establishment of this Innovation Center is part of a national strategy to enhance regional capacities for knowledge and technology generation. Implemented by the DOST through one of its research and development arm, the Metals Industry Research and Development Center (DOST-MIRDC), this initiative underscores the department's commitment to promoting science, technology, and innovation (STI) across the country.
“We realized that we are not doing enough. We are supposed to be serving the whole country. The Metals and Engineering Innovation Center has been doing what MIRDC should be doing in the regions. With this event, we are not just turning over the facility; we are sharing with you our vision and mission,” stated Engr. Robert O. Dizon, Executive Director of DOST-MIRDC on fulfilling the DOST-MIRDC’s dream of putting up DOST-MIRDCs in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
From left to right: IFSU President, Dr. Eva Marie Codamon-Dugyon; DOST-CAR Regional Director, Dr. Nancy Bantog; DOST-MIRDC Executive Director, Engr. Robert Dizon; DOST-MIRDC Deputy Executive Director, Dr. Agustin Fudolig; DOST Secretary, Dr. Renato Solidum, Jr.; Undersecretary for Regional Operations, Engr. Sancho Mabborang; and Assistant Secretary for Development Cooperation, Mr. Rodolfo Calzado, Jr
IFSU President, Dr. Eva Marie Codamon-Dugyon, expressed her enthusiasm about the partnership and in their commitment to bringing metals and engineering innovation to the whole region. "We are immensely grateful…the MEIC is a transformative initiative not only for IFSU but also for the Cordillera Administrative Region. We give our commitment not only to be good stewards of this center…we will strive to deliver impactful solutions,” she remarked.
The M&E Innovation Center in IFSU is equipped with industrial-grade metalworking machinery, including a hydraulic shearing machine, sheet metal roller, and lathe machine. These resources will be accessible not only for academic purposes but also for local industry use. Students can utilize the facility for thesis projects, while other state universities and colleges are encouraged to collaborate with the Center on research and development activities.
Local businesses can benefit from the facility through a time-sharing scheme, and local equipment fabricators are invited to engage in contract research or joint research activities. This Innovation Center aims to be a hub where university researchers, industry professionals, community leaders, and other stakeholders can come together to address pressing local issues through collaborative research.
During the ceremony, the project team presented their completed R&D projects, including a coconut grater with a presser, a coconut dehusker, and a vegetable slicer machine. These technologies are now being utilized by their beneficiaries, showcasing the tangible impact of the Center.
The handover ceremony underscores a robust partnership between DOST, DOST-MIRDC, and IFSU, and encourages the community in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) to transform ideas into innovations. From innovations, communities in the CAR can create value, generate jobs, and boost economic activities. Wide utilization of this Innovation Center will also strengthen collaborative relationships among the academe, industry, and government.
For more information and to explore collaboration opportunities, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
