PH finds potential in nanotech—yet production remains stagnant

Aaron Fernandez

For a few years, nanotechnologies had shown its capacity as the next big tool for the Philippines, modernizing outdated or tedious technologies of the country. However, commercial use has remained rare for these nanotechnologies, brewing questions for Filipino scientists on how local businesses may access these new inventions.

Nanotechnology is the science of modifying small atoms to materials and devices as small as one to 100 nanometers. These technologies are around the same sizes as viruses, and for the Philippines, these materials are critical for certain sectors. 

In a 2021 study, technological potential for nanotechnologies has been acknowledged by the Philippines through a developed roadmap on prioritized sectors and areas. 

That was 10 years ago. Now, these new technologies have changed how Filipinos operate and modernize the agricultural and healthcare sectors.

Powered potential

As the Philippines face extreme weather conditions, farmers struggle to harvest and slow down crop decay. However,  nanotechnologies had shown potential in bringing solutions to problems in the agricultural sector. 

Some farmers had begun using agricultural technologies like nano-encapsulated plant growth regulators. According to the University Knowledge Digital Repository of the University of the Philippines, these devices act as plant hormones that modify plant development. 

Moreover, up to a third of harvested local fruits spoil before reaching markets. Through this, researchers from UP Los Baños created a Fruitech coating technology that extends the shelf life of fruits through a combination of unmixable liquids. 

Rural areas however face more problems with healthcare, with some lacking proper equipment and leaving patients to travel miles to modernized hospitals.

In response to that, researchers from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) created in-vitro diagnostic kits that allow community workers to diagnose diseases or viruses like dengue. Within an hour, viruses are detected with a low-cost, and for rural areas, these kits are portable and easily deployable for their areas.

Stranded solutions

Yet some of these technologies are hardly ever seen used by the public, or even affordable to patients. Some remain in research and prototype designs—stuck in a complex process set for those applying for their product to be sold.

Under the Philippine Technology Transfer Act of the Department of Science and Technology – Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST ASTI), these nanotechnologies must go through an eight-step procedure that inspects and validates the technology. 

It makes sure that each product has sufficient data and profiling to conclude that their technology is up to standards and are for Filipino use.

However, a three-year commercialization lag may occur, keeping the product under this process for possibly more years if the technology or the creators encounter problems that need to be resolved. 

Under this pipeline are all technological products that wouldn’t be for sale unless completely approved by the DOST, keeping these nanotechnologies far from immediate commercial use.

Finding fundings

Nanotechnologies themselves are expensive to create, especially in testing for prototypes and commercial scaling. For local researchers and private businesses, spending millions of pesos while traditional, cheaper alternatives are available becomes risky for them.

Other than that, the Philippines still lack industrial nanotech experts that specialize in technological businesses. As most domestic nanotech talents remain inside academic spaces rather than technological laboratories or factories here in the Philippines.

As useful and impactful nanotechnologies are, they remain trapped behind lengthy processes and tight fundings. Yet beyond those struggles are a potential for Filipinos in modernizing the country’s own capabilities, possibly contributing to the sectors that Philippines lack the modernized equipment for.