The Department of Science and Technology is encouraging all researchers and research institutions to submit project proposals focused on food security, improved transportation, affordable and clean energy, health care, education, social services, sound fiscal management, and bureaucratic efficiency.

DoST Undersecretary Leah Buendia said in a recent televised interview that selected research and development projects will be funded under the DoST Grants-in-Aid program.

According to the agency, the GIA program "aims to harness the country's scientific and technological capabilities to spur and to attain a sustainable economic growth and development" and  "aims to strengthen the participation, technology transfer and utilization, human resources development, information dissemination, advocacy, and linkages."

The DoST's four main pillars in its strategic plan for 2023 to 2028 are human well-being, wealth creation, wealth protection and sustainability.

"Here, in these pillars, research proposals will be submitted so that each priority area can increase the possibility that the proposal will be funded," said Buendia.

So far, the agency has provided over P11.5 billion for R&D projects carried out all over the country.

"We are now going around the country to inform others that these funds are available and will encourage other researchers to submit a proposal to provide a solution to the problems of our country," the science and technology official said.

"Today is the last leg of the Call Conference for 2024, where we have invited researchers from various universities and research institutions. We went to Baguio for the North Luzon cluster; Cagayan de Oro for the Mindanao cluster; and last week was in Cebu for the Visayas cluster."

Among the R&D projects funded by the government are GeoRiskPH and HazardHunter, which are hazard-mitigation innovations aimed at enhancing efforts in the nation's disaster risk management and calamity recovery.

Buendia said that they usually receive thousands of proposals, but due to further evaluation and limited funding, only hundreds of proposals are being processed and funded.