DOST strengthens data-driven policymaking, project development

The Department of Science and Technology is strengthening its capacity to turn technical data and research insights into bankable project proposals and evidence-based policies aimed at supporting national development.

The initiative was led by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Development Cooperation and the Geospatial Analytics and Technology Solutions Program, in collaboration with United Nations Development Programme Philippines, experts from the University of the Philippines National College of Public Administration and Governance, and the National Research Council of the Philippines.

Speaking during the activity, DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. said the department aims to become a more agile, data-driven, and future-ready institution by transforming information into insights that create national value.

"Data must be connected. It must speak a common language. It must move from information to insight to action," Solidum said. "As the Department that leads innovation, we must also lead in harmonization, integration, and translation".

The first two days of the series, conducted with UNDP Philippines, focused on developing high-impact project proposals. Participants were guided through problem framing and stakeholder mapping to generate project concept notes addressing human capital development, innovation and economic growth, and climate change and disaster risk reduction.

UNDP Resident Representative Knut Ostby said improving the use of Official Development Assistance and external financing could help position science and technology initiatives as catalysts for private-sector participation and domestic investment.

“This is about scaling innovations where they are needed most,” Ostby said.

DOST Assistant Secretary for Development Rodolfo J. Calzado Jr. encouraged participants to further refine their outputs into full draft concept notes, which will serve as groundwork for one-on-one coaching sessions with the UNDP team scheduled in early 2026 to develop investment-ready proposals.

The final day of the series, conducted with UP-NCPAG experts, focused on bridging research and policy. Participants examined ways to translate technical findings into actionable policy insights and discussed institutionalizing open data to promote transparency and good governance.

Calzado said that while the DOST system generates significant volumes of geospatial and technical data each year, meaningful impact depends on translating this information into people-centered action.

The three-day seminar and writeshop, titled “Collaborate, Translate, Transform: Seminar and Writeshop Series on Partnership and Proposal Development, Research Translation, and Policy Development,” was held from Dec. 2 to 4, 2025, and gathered representatives from the DOST Central Office and its attached agencies.

The GATES Program is one of DOST’s eight banner research and development programs aimed at delivering science-based and inclusive solutions across four strategic pillars: human well-being, wealth creation, wealth protection, and sustainability.