An online public information database project of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) worth P20-million will represent the country in the World Summit Awards (WSA) e-science and technology (S & T) category in Mexico after winning as one of the finalists in the 11th Philippine Web Awards e-government website category.

The database project, dubbed, “One Stop Information Shop of Technologies” (OSIST),  is a P20-million project of DOST’s Philippine Council for Industry and Energy Research and Development (PCIERD), which aims to make DOST technologies more available to the public, particularly small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) who need to improve their businesses and generate more jobs through technological advancements.

The team behind OSIST, headed by project leader Arlene Romasanta, will be representing the country at the WSA on June 12 at Monterey, Mexico.

OSIST was launched by PCIERD in September last year and has compiled about 280 DOST technologies, which are all ready for diffusion and commercialization, including that in agriculture, energy, food, health, pharmaceuticals and medical products, aquatic and marine, disaster management, equipment and devices, handicrafts, and textiles. It also features an e-payment system for easier payment on technology information.

Basic information that can be acquired in the OSIST are made available to the public. Access to “premium details” such as a technology’s significance, potential, companies that adopted the technology, limitations of the technology, its beneficiaries, market analysis, management/organizational analysis, similar or alternative technology, environmental effects, return of investment (ROI), net present value, and profit, among others, are charged for a fee.

The technologies uploaded at the OSIST website (www.osist.pcierd.dost.gov.ph) are already patented or have already applied for patent at the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) – Philippines.
“More and more premium information are being made ready for uploading as S & T projects are completed and assessed as technology ready for transfer,” Romasanta said.

WSA is a global contest which recognizes the best e-content and innovative information and communications technology applications. It aims to bridge the digital divide, especially in developing countries. It is joined by 168 member countries of the United Nations.

Winners of the WSA are judged based on content quality and comprehensiveness, ease of use, value added through interactivity and multimedia, design, and craftsmanship.