top of page
Writer's pictureGanda Negosyo

DOST-BIST funds local tech startup to produce green and sustainable packaging materials





PH tech startup Nanotronics Inc. receives funding from the Department of Science
and Technology - Business Innovation through S&T (BIST) for Industry Program to
develop a Fully Advanced and Highly Sustainable Packaging Material using Advanced
and Nanotechnology Materials from Indigenous Plants for the local packaging industry.


The Philippines takes another step towards the long transition to environmental sustainability by funding a local technology startup.


During the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) - Business Innovation through S&T (BIST) for Industry Program symposium held on Monday, April 25, 2022 entitled “Harnessing Practical R&D for Enterprises”, four local companies were featured working on notable research and development (R&D) industrial projects.









“R&D is often associated with the complicated and the theoretical,” explained DOST Secretary Fortunato T. De La Peña. “The need to be innovative and competitive is a must for all industries. This event aims to present R&D’s practicality and purpose, so much so that it must be weaved in the corporate set up, ensuring that businesses can take advantage of product development, processes and protecting it from business disruptors.”


“The development of technologies always moves at an accelerated pace,” says DOST Undersecretary for R&D Rowena Cristina L. Guevara. “Through the DOST-BIST program, Filipino companies can acquire technologies for immediate incorporation in their R&D activities. This program enables Filipino companies to have an opportunity to innovate and be globally competitive.”










Entitled “BIST: Harnessing Practical R&D for Enterprises”, the event showcased the positive impact of R&D in the business of four local companies. Nanotronics Inc., a local technology startup, is one of the companies highlighted during the event, given their funding amounting to five million pesos (P5,000,000.00) to develop a Fully Advanced and Highly Sustainable Packaging Material using Advanced and Nanotechnology Materials from Indigenous Plants.


The project aims to solve the issue on the use of non-biodegradable and non-renewable materials such as plastics in packaging applications which raised concerns about environmental pollution. Annually, large amounts of single-use packaging materials are produced, but the post-product life of these packaging materials necessitate the need for traditional methods of handling such as incineration and land filling. However, incineration of non-biodegradable packaging materials generates greenhouse gases posing a threat to our health and environment. The project focuses on biopolymers, given its inherent biodegradability property. It is seen to solve disposal issues of single-use plastics.









“Nanotronics is committed to make an impact to our environment and community through the sustainable products that we develop leveraging the highly renewable materials available in the country. Moreover, I wish to encourage fellow startups and also local companies to continuously innovate their products through research and development, so that the products will become globally competitive and have heightened impact to society especially to us, Filipinos.”


Through BIST, the DOST provides financial assistance to the private sector industries through funding 70% of the eligible expenses for licensing of technology and purchase of equipment. The remaining 30% of funding must be sourced by the applicant.









For companies who are also seeking to explore the benefits of the DOST BIST Program, you may contact the DOST-Science for Change Project Management Office at 2/F ADMATEL Bldg., DOST Compound, Gen. Santos Ave., Bicutan, Taguig City, with telephone numbers (02) 8837-2943/ 8837-2930. You may also send an email to s4c.ousecrd@dost.gov.ph.









32 views0 comments

Comments


bottom of page