Streamlining proposal evaluation for technology transfer projects: DOST-PCAARRD's En Banc Review

A series of en banc proposal evaluations was organized by the Technology Transfer and Promotion Division (TTPD) of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) on February 27-28 and March 20-21, 2024, in Los Baños, Laguna. 

The initiative stemmed from the "Training on Technology Transfer Modality-Based Programs/Projects," held in 2023 with the aim of generating winnable concept/capsule proposals. The subsequent goal was to develop these into full-blown project proposals eligible for funding in 2024. Hence, the en banc proposal evaluation was convened to streamline the packaging and assessment of the proposals.

Thirteen agencies presented 18 proposals in Batch 1, while nine agencies showcased 12 proposals in Batch 2. Dedicated extension and deployment practitioners from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao converged for this event. 

Welcoming the participants and evaluators for the first and second batches, were  DOST-PCAARRD Technology Transfer and Promotion Division (TTPD) Director Noel A. Catibog and Extension and Deployment Unit Head Yolanda M. Tanyag. They both emphasized the importance of establishing connections with Agri-based Technology Business Incubators (ATBIs) and underscored the necessity of aligning proposals towards enterprise development and their eventual transformation into community or social enterprises. The importance of effectively communicating objectives, methodology, outputs, outcomes, and budget to stakeholders was also stressed with the hope that the learnings gained during the training had been applied in the proposals. They also pointed out that proposal packaging can often present greater challenges than the implementation of the projects themselves.

During the sessions, each proponent was given a 10-minute window to present their proposals, followed by an open forum where evaluators, including esteemed S&T Consultants Mr. Joselito A. Payot, Dr. Dixon T. Gevaña, Dr. Andrew D. Gasmen, and Mr. Jose Tomas M. Cabagay, provided feedback and suggestions for improvement.

A writeshop was also conducted to allow proponents to refine their proposals based on the feedback received from evaluators and TTPD staff. Proponents were expected to submit final draft proposals, which once finalized, would be uploaded to the DOST Project Management Information System (DPMIS) for presentation and potential funding.

The en banc proposal evaluation not only accelerated the process of project evaluation and funding, but also fostered collaboration and innovation in technology transfer across the country.