Skip to main content

Philippines receives 7 global research collaboration awards

Image
By

Emerges as leader in innovative solutions

The Philippines has emerged as a global leader in pioneering innovative solutions to addressing some of the world’s greatest development challenges.

The U.S. Embassy Manila’s U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and two United States-based organizations—the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the National Cancer Institute (NCI), recently announced new research projects that advance the scientific and technical capacity of both the United States and partner countries in critical areas of development.

A total of US$8.5 million (P370 million) was awarded to 46 projects in 23 countries, with the Philippines taking home a staggering seven grants to fund work that combats tuberculosis, preserves biodiversity and boosts environmental resilience.

The grants are funded through a grant-making facility, the Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER) program, a joint initiative designed to foster collaborative global research. Through the competitively awarded program, USAID directly supports researchers in developing countries who work with U.S. government-funded researchers.

This grant opportunity coincides with the worldwide launch of USAID’s Science Technology and Innovation Partnerships (STIP), an initiative which underscores the role of science and research in helping countries leapfrog their development.

USAID/Philippines Mission Director Gloria D. Steele said, “We are working closely with our partners in the national and local governments, the private sector, civil society organizations and academia. Together, we are supporting initiatives that develop locally-driven innovative solutions to support the Philippine Government’s goal of fostering broad-based, inclusive and resilient growth.”

The seven projects awarded in the Philippines represent a diverse set of approaches to advancing development in the country. One aims to preserve mangrove ecosystems to mitigate the impact of natural disasters. Another will improve childhood tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment, and yet another will sustain native biodiversity in the face of climate change. The project proponents will collaborate with researchers in universities in the United States, such as the California Academy of Sciences, Smithsonian Institution, and UCLA School of Medicine.

PEER allows scientists to collaborate worldwide on a variety of crucial research areas, such as maternal and child health, glacier retreat and water resource sustainability, drought and climate change mitigation, and pollution remediation. PEER awardees were selected from over 300 high-quality proposals.

Since its launch in 2011, PEER has supported more than 150 projects in over 40 countries, an investment of about $28 million. Previous awardees are already seeing positive impacts from their projects: development of integrated humanitarian logistics systems in Colombia, improved yam seed varieties in Nigeria, reduced exposure to arsenic and fluoride in groundwater in India, and assessment of volcanic hazards in Armenia.


“We hope these grants will help Filipinos implement long-term solutions to the country’s pressing development challenges,” USAID Philippines Director Gloria Steele said, reiterating the U.S. Government’s commitment to further enhancing Filipino talent and skill to produce innovative solutions that will spur inclusive and resilient growth.  (US Embassy)
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Empanada festival: A celebration of good taste and good life

By
By Dominic B. dela Cruz & Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporters BATAC CITY—If there is one thing Batac is truly proud of, it would be its famous empanada-making business that has nurtured its people over the years. Embracing a century-old culture and culinary tradition, Batac’s empanada claims to be the best and tastiest in the country with its distinctive Ilokano taste courtesy of its local ingredients: fresh grated papaya, mongo, chopped longganisa, and egg. The crispy orange wrapper and is made of rice flour that is deep-fried. The celebration of this city’s famous traditional fast food attracting locals and tourists elsewhere comes with the City Charter Day of Batac every 23 rd  of June. Every year, the City Government of Batac led by Mayor Jeffrey Jubal Nalupta commemorate the city’s charter day celebration to further promote its famous One-Town, One Product, the Batac empanada. Empanada City The Batac empanada festival has already become an annua
8 comments
Read more

Pagudpud’s tourism transformer passes away

By
By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—Retired Philippine Air Force Col. Ricardo Nolasco Jr., owner of Hannah’s Beach Resort and Convention Center in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte passed away on Wednesday evening, July 11, 2018. He was 67. “He did not survive an open-heart surgery,” said Ronald Dominguez, spokesperson of the largest resort at Brgy. Balaoi in Pagudpud. Known as the architect behind the transformation of Pagudpud town as a premiere destination of the north, Mr. Nolasco put up Hannah’s Beach Resort in what was originally meant as a family vacation resort. The rest is history when it expanded into more than 300-room executive villas and cabanas, with on-going infrastructure developments and set up various amenities. As a result, hundreds of domestic and foreign tourists visit here daily. The resort is on a cliff by the beach, which provides a spectacular view of the sparkling blue lagoon. “Yesterday will go down my lifeline as one
Post a Comment
Read more

PGIN honors Ilocano heroes of past, present through Heroes Walk

By
SPO1 Allan Lampitoc Franco of Banna, Ilocos Norte and PO2 Jovalyn D. Lozano of Adams, Ilocos Norte receive a resolution of commendation, a certificate of college scholarship grant to their family members and a P20,000 cash incentive each from the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte represented by Governor Imee R. Marcos and Vice Governor Angelo M. Barba in recognition of their bravery and heroic acts in the Mamasapano clash in Maguindanao on January 25. Mr. Franco and Mr. Lozano were recognized on March 10 in time for the unveiling of the second batch of Ilocano heroes at the Heroes Walk located along the Sirib Mile in Laoag City.  (Lei Adriano) By Jennifer T. Pambid PGIN-CMO In honor of the heroes who brought freedom, fame and glory to the province as well as to the country in the past century, the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) through the Education Department and Sirib Youth Office launched the second batch of Ilocano Heroes Walk on March 10, 2015.
5 comments
Read more