The following are the initiatives being pursued under the platform of Innovation, Science and Technology for Accelerating Regional Technology-based Development (iSTART):
  • Development of customized Intelligent Green Box Technology for high value crops production. The Intelligent Green Box (IGB) aims to optimize indoor farming technology suited to the conditions of Region 8 and allow growing of high-valued crops in a climate-controlled environment, and therefore is expected to help Region 8 achieve food security despite its being prone to destructive typhoons.
  • Development of Leyte Agriculture Information System and e-Commerce Platform to link Farmers to Markets. The application is aimed to digitize the agriculture ecosystem and empower buyers and producers with access to high-quality agriculture produce and data.
  • S&T-based Solutions to the Environmental Hazards of Flooding in Palo, Leyte. Aimed conduct a comprehensive analysis of the flooding problem in the municipality and to recommend long-term solutions. Phase 1 of the study, which is being funded through DOST8’s Grant-in-Aid Program, commenced in March 2021 after a series of consultative meetings with the involved Local Chief Executives and Government Agencies. The entire study is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2022.
  • Community Empowerment thru Science and Technology (CEST). Aimed to establish a Science and Technology Center for nutritious street food processing will be established with funding from DOST-GIA; the center to produce value-added products utilizing local raw materials such as fish and other seafood, vegetables, root crops, etc.
  • Capacity Development on Calibration Services. DOST Leyte and the DOST 8 Regional Standards and Testing Laboratory (RSTL) agreed to empower local entrepreneurs conduct and document so called shopfloor innovations. The new initiative aims to empower the local food processors improve their own manufacturing systems for better productivity and product quality, with the guidance of DOST. On the other hand, the DOST Leyte and RSTL also drew concrete plans on how to further enhance the technical capabilities of the Local Government Units in the Province of Leyte deliver calibration and/or metrology services to its industries. One of the means to realize this is to assist the LGUs establish their very own Calibration Validation Laboratory and train them on the technical aspect of maintaining such facilities.