THE R&D ADVANTAGES OF SCUs/HEIs OVER THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES OF THE DOST by Ronaldo Q. Dominguez Supervising SRS, ITDD-PCIERD In the Philippines, research and development activities are generally publicly funded. The domain of research and development (R&D) activities, by and large, are mainly government institutions whose primary mandate or extended charters invoke such functions as integral to their effective operation and extension services. State Colleges and Universities (SCUs) comprises the biggest number of institutions in the entire country with the ancillary mission, design and expectation of pursuing relevant R&D and extension services. Largest Contingent on a Singular Mission, The academic community has imbued in its mission the undertaking of R&D as an important mechanism for its sustainable operation Having the biggest number of functional research missions and dispersed within the entire Philippine archipelago, they are vastly superior in many ways to the dozen or so research and development institutes (RDIs) under the direct supervision of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). However, while they possess superiority that are very factual, the underlying elements of their superiority are hardy recognized, sometimes even downplayed. Academic institutions has but to recognize the elements that grant them relative advantages over the RDIs of DOST to spur them to the exalted position they deserve in the domain of R&D and extension services. SCUs are Superior R&D Organizations Teacher's Pet and the Alumnus: The Power Partners from the Past! What is it that makes SCUs relatively superior? For starters, they deliver graduates on a yearly basis. These alumni who are honed on various educational disciplines (engineering and the sciences) become employed in various companies. In time they become key decision makers. They need to be positioned as valid ties (links) or partners for science and technology interventions of which R&D plays important roles. If anyone thinks such a proposition is afaulty abstraction, take a deeper investigation of our country's top ranking universities and colleges. It will disclose a dynamic role and a gamut of technical and or administrative-related support being extended by alumnus to the Alma Mater. Furthermore, on few occasions, their alumnus even contribute financial support to their Alma Maters' fund raising campaigns. The strategic point of contention, somehow, is to expect from alumnus more of the former and less in the later. Thy Territory as Strategic Wellspring of R&D SCUs, particularly those established in the provinces (or regionally) are closer geographically, liaison-wise and information-wise, to the country's agri-industry resources. These are crystal-clear advantages as one of the greatest principal (source) reference for identifying and advancing R&D programs and projects lies in resource-based scientific experimentation and investigations. Liaison-wise and culturally, the affairs of trade and business in provinces and regions, being less complex than those in urban centers like Metro Manila, are even much more accessible to SCUs for science and engineering related interactions, needs evaluations and counsel than any RDIs of DOST. Talk or Text?---The Twist Tongue Advantage Add to these the advantages SCUs in terms of local dialect and our countrymen's provincial or parochial "Kababayan" partiality and affinity, the combination is clearly in favor of SCUs. SCUs-a pseudo Corporation with Legion of Experts and Steady (Student) Force Another particular advantage of SCUs over the RDIs of DOST is their psuedo-corporate charters that allows them to undertake income generating activities. In academic parlance, these activities are popularly referred to as "Income Generating Projects" or simply IGPs. While in general DOST agencies and in most particular its RDIs likewise can undertake income generating activities, they do not have the flexibility of SCUs in the management and disposition of income derived from their IGPs or services. DOST RDIs must revert their income to the national coffers. SCUs, on the other hand, have an advantageous flexibility on the disposition of their income, such that they can, if an opportunity presents, have the expediency of channeling part of their income to fund R&D projects of national, regional or provincial importance and whose expected technological results can be patented and utilized for commercial use by industry or by the SCUs themselves. This expediency of channeling by SCUs of available funds from their IGP to R&D projects can allow SCUs to repeat many times the cycle of strategic income generation and the conduct of new R&D activities.. These panorama of position enjoyed by SCUs definitely provide them with myriad of advantages over the RDIs of DOST in terms of R&D endeavor. These advantages do inherently exist for SCUs, starting at their program/project preparatory stage, during program implementation and eventually for their technology transfer and extension services. Note that these same advantages are the very wish list of all RDIs, most especially those RDIs under the DOST. These are all real advantages and therefore should be harnessed in full strength to fulfill a very important mission. Lest We Forget: SCUs as R&D Partners of DOST However there is still one factor that SCUs need to contend with. This is the availability of facilities and expertise to conduct meaningful R&D and technology transfer activities. The creation of Regional Industry and Energy Consortia is an active response to this limiting factor. Collaborative research efforts, sharing of facilities and inter-agency assistance for delivery of relevant extension services should therefore be high on the agenda of every consortium. The last frontiers in the areas of global competition is agri-industries in the countryside. SCUs can greatly contribute its share in making our regional industries vibrant and competitive. Taking all its advantages into practical utility, SCUs are without doubt a very strong force in the region. On the other hand, DOST RDIs will certainly not mind being in the supporting cast. In fact they are always earnest to partnership and collaborate with SCUs.