The Department of Science and Technology (DoST) through the Technology Application and Promotion Institute (TAPI) and DOST Region VII recently conducted the 2010 National Invention Contest and Exhibits (2009 NICE) at the SM Cebu Trade Hall, Cebu City on 25-27 November 2010.

Pursuant to Article II of Republic Act No. 7459, the Philippine Inventors Act, the National Invention Contest aims to give recognition to ingenious Filipinos and encourage the value of inventiveness among the young. The 2010 NICE is highlighted by the conferment of awards, including Outstanding Inventions (Tuklas Award), Outstanding Utility Models, Outstanding Industrial Designs, Outstanding Creative Researches (Likha Award), and Outstanding Student Creative Research (Sibol Award) for high school and college students.

This year’s entries for the National Invention Contest are the winners of Regional Cluster Inventions Contests in Mindanao, Visayas, Southern Luzon (Bicol, CALABARZON and MIMAROPA), Northern Luzon, Central Luzon and National Capital Region (NCR).  With the theme, “Filipino Inventions and Innovations: The Way Forward”, the three (3)-day activity highlights the Filipino inventors’ crucial  role, through their pioneering inventions/innovations, in helping the country attain national and countryside economic development.  The 2010 NICE provides the necessary support to Filipino inventors by bringing their inventions for public and potential investors and commercialization partners. It is a venue to stimulate and encourage inventiveness and ingenuity of the Filipino youth and the technically oriented sectors of Filipino society. Aside from the National Invention Contest, 2010 NICE feature the Non-Contest Invention Exhibit and Investors’ Fair, a selling expo for Filipino inventions and the Inventor’s Forum, the presentation of assistance to inventors and marketing of inventions.

Filipinos have been recognized in this event for their inventiveness or innovativeness and the annual holding of the National Invention Contest and Exhibit provides a venue to sustain the generation of economically viable technologies and inventions and hasten the commercialization of inventor-generated technologies.

Source: TAPI-DOST