BACOLOD City – Micro, small, and medium enterprises may avail themselves of various technology upgrading assistance granted by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) through the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program-Innovation Fund (SETUP i-FUND) in the province.
The implementation of technology innovation projects has a P17.7 million fund allocation, said Provincial Science and Technology Director Allan Francis Dara-ug.
Dara-ug noted most of the SETUP beneficiaries in the province belong to the food processing, and metals and engineering sectors.
These beneficiaries repay the total cost of the assistance to the government for three years without interest, he said.
DOST’s SETUP project is a key strategy to boost the competitiveness of MSMEs through the provision of science and technology based interventions such as technical consultancy services, product development, process and equipment upgrading, technology trainings, laboratory and testing services, packaging and labeling assistance, among others.
Priority sectors are those belonging to food processing, furniture, gifts, decors and housewares, agriculture/aquaculture and marine, metals and engineering, Information and Communications Technology, and pharmaceuticals and health products. (With a report from PIA/PN)
