Inventors' week focuses on ingenuity, innovativeness of Filipinos

BATAAN, Oct 1 (PNA) -- The spotlight will again focus on the ingenuity and innovativeness of the Filipino as the nation celebrates National Inventors' Week (NIW) this coming November 17-21.

The 2008 NIW will feature the National Inventors' Contest (NIC), an annual search for the most outstanding inventions, utility models, industrial designs, as well as creative researches by professional and amateur inventors.

Rosalie V. Ona, chief of the Provincial Science and technology Center (PSTC) in Bataan, said that in addition to the regular cash prizes, plaques and gold medals to be given to winners of the NIC, Chenrez Technologies Inc., will also grant the Chemrez Green Chemistry Awards.

The award, consisting of cash and trophies is available in two categories: Chemrez Green Chemistry Special Award for the general public, individuals or groups; profit or non-profit organizations and Sibol Special Award for students, individuals or groups, whether high school or college level, who will be submitting entries to the NIC that fall under the green chemistry.

Green chemistry, according to Ona, is the use and design of chemical products or chemical processes that reduce or eliminate the use or generation of substances, directly or as a by-product, that are hazardous to human health or to the ecosphere.

Ona further explained that green chemistry applies to the whole life cycle of a resultant product including the design, manufacture and use of such chemical products.

"It consists of chemicals and chemical processes designed to reduce or eliminate negative environmental impacts", Ona stressed.

Other activities lined up for the week-long NIW are: the holding of an inventors' fair and exhibit; inventors' congress; inventors'-industry consultations and products presentation.

Objectives of the week-long event, which will be held at the Philippine Trade Training Center (along Roxas Boulevard, corner Gil Puyat Avenue in Pasay City), are:

To provide immediate support to Filipino inventors by bringing their inventions or innovations for public and potential investors' appreciation and possible commercialization prospects;

To stimulate and encourage creativity and inventiveness and enhance knowledge among the youths and other interested sectors of society;

To gather Filipino inventors and organizations in one specific venue to herald and value their ingenuity and innovativeness.

The 2008 NIW is spearheaded by the Technology Application and Promotion Institute (TAPI), one of six service institutes of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) that also serves as the marketing arm of the Agency.