Research and Development (R&D) in academe and research and development institutions (RDI) is mostly conducted independent of industry needs and usually the end goal is a publication, intellectual property or graduated students. Most Small-to-Medium Enterprises (SME) are not aware of possible synergies in working with the academe and RDIs.

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST), as part of the Accelerated R&D Program for Capacity Building of R&D Institutions and Industrial Competitiveness, under the Science for Change (S4C) Program established the Collaborative Research and Development to Leverage Philippine Economy (CRADLE) which is specifically designed to catalyze partnerships in R&D between academic institutions, RDIs and SMEs.

CRADLE provides financial grant from DOST to enable an SME to partner with a Higher Educational Institution (HEI) or RDI to find viable solutions to an existing research and development problem in industry. The research problem is stated by the SME, and the academic institution or RDI will solve the problem in partnership with the SME. A CRADLE project can have a maximum funding of P5 million, and implemented for a period of one year to three years.

A total of eight SMEs with their partner HEIs and RDIs recently received grants from the DOST to fund their research and development projects.

Among the SMEs and partner HEI/RDIs given grants are: the Pascual Pharma Corporation with the Technological Institute of the Philippines; Del Monte Philippines, Inc. with the University of San Agustin-Iloilo; Hijo Resources Corporation with University of Southeastern Philippines; Santeh Feeds Corporations with the De La Salle University; Sugar and Ice Confections, Inc. with the University of the Philippines-Los Baños; Batangas Egg Producers Cooperative with the University of the Philippines-Diliman; Learning by Doing Technologies with the University of Southeastern Philippines; and Asian Semiconductor Philippines with the University of the Philippines-Diliman.

Through CRADLE, the DOST aims to invigorate the Philippine innovation ecosystem as it presents the opportunity for collaboration between researchers, scientists and engineers in the academe and local private companies. The DOST also aims to help the industry gain competitive edge in the market, through the development of innovative products, processes and/or services that are responsive to changing and global dynamics.

Source: https://business.mb.com.ph/2018/12/15/dost-approves-8-rd-grants-for-smes-and-universities/