The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) will host the 9th Balik Scientist Program Convention on Wednesday, September 27 in Clark New City.
Balik Scientists will present their accomplishments in the past year working with colleagues and scientists in Manila and the regions, Science Undersecretary Leah Buendia said yesterday.
Many of the Balik Scientists have come home for good, she said, putting their knowledge in service for the country.
Since 1975 when the program started until August this year, some 631 Balik Scientists returned to work in universities and research institutes, and conducted 819 engagements, meaning many of them have returned more than once, working in 150 institutions in 16 regions.
From 2020 to 2022 alone, 102 Balik Scientists did local service, Buendia said.
The Balik Scientist Program is designed to reverse the effect of the brain drain, strengthen science and technology, accelerate the flow of technologies and promote knowledge sharing.
It promotes information exchange and accelerates the flow of new technology into the country by strengthening the scientific and technological manpower of the academe and public and private institutions.
The DOST’s aim for the BSP is to bring Filipino scientists, technologists and experts back to the country, and with them the knowledge they have learned abroad.
They are encouraged to promote scientific, agro-industrial and economic development, including human capital in science, technology and innovation.
It was institutionalized with the Balik Scientist Act signed into law in 2018.
The priority areas range from agricultural engineering to animal breeding, fisheries to forestry, policy research to socio-economics, vaccine and diagnostic development to watershed management.
About seven in 10 Balik Scientists come from the United States and one in 10 from Asia, including Japan, followed by Australia and Europe.
