By Alithea De Jesus
Photos from DOST-PCAARRD

Collaboration is the name of the game especially now that the world is facing a lot of challenges brought by the coronavirus pandemic, and this is what both the Philippines and Thailand recently did.

The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Thailand’s Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) last year, to intensify its partnership and collaboration and explore other learning, technical and business opportunities in this industry.

Interestingly, Thailand’s Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) is the leading regional postgraduate institution that promotes technological change and sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region through higher education, research, and outreach. AIT’s mission is to develop highly qualified and committed professionals who will play a leading role in the sustainable development of the region and its integration into the global economy. 

This new collaboration with AIT is a result of the Global Technology and Information Search (GTIS), benchmarking activity on the best practices in S&T administration for improved resource management and utilization conducted by Dr. Melvin B. Carlos, Deputy Executive Director for Administration, Resource Management and Support Services and Dr. Procy B. Sobreviñas, Supervising Science Research Specialist of DOST-PCAARRD

Both DOST-PCAARRD and AIT agreed to implement joint research and development projects, capacity building activities (exchange of researchers, faculty, and scholars), and joint training and development programs, conferences, symposia, and workshops. Also included in the partnership are the exchange of information, education, and communication (IEC) materials and scientific and technical publications; and participation in scientific seminars, workshops, conferences, and symposia. The said modes of cooperation will cover agricultural systems and engineering; aquaculture and aquatic resources management; natural resources management development and sustainability; environmental engineering and management; climate change and sustainable development; and nanotechnology.

The MOU was signed by Dr. Reynaldo V. Ebora, DOST-PCAARRD Executive Director, and Dr. Eden Y. Woon, AIT President. Currently, both parties are working on the details of the work plan of cooperation focusing on the above priority areas and as well as the implementation when the said programs are already ready to be rolled out.