The different S&T interventions have been aggressively delivered with the implementation of the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP). SETUP is a nationwide strategy to encourage and assist MSMEs as well as private and government institutions to implement technological innovations in order to enhance their competitiveness and support the economic development in the countryside.
The program enables beneficiaries to address their technical problems through technology transfer and technology interventions to improve product quality, develop human resources, minimize cost, enhance waste management, and other operation related activities.
INNOVATION SYSTEM SUPPORT FUND (ISSF)
The ISSF is a major technology transfer and commercialization program under SETUP which provides assistance for the upgrading of existing production facilities of MSMEs/organizations as well as acquisition of other critical requirements in the production line. Primarily, it aims to improve product quality and productivity in order to ensure market competitiveness. Under this modality, the beneficiaries refund the total cost of the assistance to the government for three years without interest.
The program rationalizes and links all DOST services to address the technological needs of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with the steadfast support and cooperation of DOST Provincial S&T Centers (PSTCs), DOST research and development institutes (RDIs), councils and other institutes of the department. Various modalities of technology transfer interventions and provision of technical services are provided under the program to attain its objectives. Areas of interventions include product quality improvement, human resources development, cost minimization, waste management and other operation related activities.
Priority sectors assisted are as follows: Food Processing; Metals and Engineering; Horticulture; Gifts, Decors & Handicrafts; Furniture; Aquatic and Marine; Information & Communications Technology and Health Products & Services.