Qualification

The right to submit application and be awarded as a Balik Scientist shall be enjoyed by:

Foreign-based Filipinos or foreigners of Filipino descent

With graduate or advanced degrees

Internationally-recognized experts in the priority sectors of DOST

Willing to come back and serve on a short, medium or long term basis

Types of Awards

Short Term

15 days to 6 months

To be served within 1 year

Incentives

  • 1 international round trip airfare
  • Daily Allowance (USD 200/day or the UNDP rate, whichever is higher)
  • Subsidized visa application
  • Round trip domestic airfare and accommodation for 1 local conference
  • Health and medical (including dental) insurance (Php 250,000/illness)
  • Accident/travel insurance (up to Php 3 Million coverage)
  • Freight, Excess baggage allowance (up to 25 kg)
  • GIA funding for research (proposal driven)
  • Membership in the NRCP and 1 professional organization
  • 1 round trip domestic airfare and accommodation for Annual BSP Convention
  • One-time incentive for outstanding completion
  • Exemption from PRC requirements

Medium Term

6 months to 1 year

To be served within 2 to 3 years

Incentives

  • 1 international round trip airfare
  • Daily Allowance (USD 200/day or the UNDP rate, whichever is higher)
  • Subsidized visa application
  • Round trip domestic airfare and accommodation for 2 local conferences
  • Health and medical (including dental) insurance
    (Php 250,000/illness)
  • Accident/travel insurance (up to Php 3 Million coverage)
  • Freight, Excess baggage allowance (up to 25 kg)
  • GIA funding for research (proposal driven)
  • Membership in the NRCP and 1 professional organization
  • 1 round trip domestic airfare and accommodation for Annual BSP Convention
  • One-time incentive for outstanding completion
  • Exemption from PRC requirements

Long Term

1 to 3 years

To be served within 5 years

Incentives

  • 1 international round trip airfare for the Scientist, spouse and dependents
  • Special non-immigrant visa for the Scientist, spouse and dependents
  • Relocation allowance (Php 250,000)
  • Housing allowance (up to Php 40,000/month)
  • Transportation allowance (Php 5,000/month)
  • Salary equivalent to at least SG 24
  • Round trip domestic airfare and accommodation for 3 local conferences
  • Health and medical (Including dental) insurance (Php 250,000/illness)
  • Accident/travel insurance (up to Php 3 Million coverage)
  • Freight, Excess baggage allowance (up to 25 kg)
  • GIA funding for research (proposal driven)
  • Membership in the NRCP and 1 professional organization
  • 1 round trip domestic airfare and accommodation for annual BSP Convention
  • One-time incentive for outstanding completion
  • Exemption from PRC requirements

Requirements

  • Accomplished BSP Application Form and Terms of Reference
  • Endorsement letter from the Host Institution(s)
  • Medical Certificate
  • Copy of passport and page with stamp of the most recent date of arrival
    • For non-Filipino passport holders, submit proof of Filipino descent i.e., birth certificate, sworn statement)
  • Copy of diploma or transcript of record or certificate of academic achievement(s) from a credible local or international public/private institution/association
  • Detailed/Updated Curriculum Vitae
    • Educational Background
    • Field of Specialization
    • Areas of Research Interest
    • Professional/Employment/Work History including significant scientific, technological and/or entrepreneurial activities undertaken
    • Significant achievements (up to 3) made related to your expertise or profession
    • Relevant trainings, and fellowship or grants)
  • For subsequent visit, justification by the host institution for the subsequent engagement

If requirements are complete, the processing of application and admission to the Balik Scientist Program may take at most 1 month. Applications may be submitted to:

Balik Scientist Secretariat

DOST Building, Gen. Santos Avenue, Bicutan, Taguig City, Metro Manila 1631, Philippines

bsp@dost.gov.ph

Application Process

CO-002 Application to Balik-Scientist Program (BSP)

Science and Technology experts who are Filipinos, or foreigners of Filipino descent shall be encouraged to return or reside in the Philippines, and share their expertise in order to accelerate the scientific, agro-industrial and economic development of the country.

Office or Division:Office of the Undersecretary for Research and Development
Classification:Highly Technical Applications
Type of Transaction:G2C, G2G
Who may avail: Foreign-based Filipinos or foreigners of Filipino descent
  • with graduate/advanced degrees and has internationally recognized expertise in the priority sectors of DOST
  • willing to come back and serve either on a short-term, medium-term, or long-term basis.
For further details, visit https://bsp.dost.gov.ph/
CHECKLIST OF REQUIREMENTS WHERE TO SECURE
1. Accomplished BSP Expert’s Information Sheet (BSP 001)
2. Detailed curriculum vitae
3. Photocopy of the diploma or transcript of academic records or certification of academic achievements
4. Endorsement/Invitation letter from a credible local/public institution/association, if application is submitted directly by the BSP applicant 		Accomplish via https://bsp.dost.gov.ph/application/
From applicant in any format/template
From applicant’s school attended

From any credible local/public institution/association
5. Copy of a valid certificate of registration, valid professional license or a temporary special permit or any foreign license, and passport Government agency issuing identification card/license/passport
6. Specific Terms of Reference (BSP 002)/Workplan and expected output indicating the concurrence of the Host Institutions, for applicants under the short-term category Accomplish via https://bsp.dost.gov.ph/application/
7. Detailed statement of research and/or Activity Plan with concurrence of the Host Institutions, for applicants under the long-term category From applicant in any format/template
8. Medical Certificate From any government or private medical facility
CLIENT STEPS AGENCY ACTIONS FEES TO BE PAID PROCESSING TIME PERSON RESPONSIBLE
1. Submit the application form and documentary requirements of an applicant with host institution 1.1. Receive and check completeness of the documents. Notify the applicant for incomplete application documents.

1.2. Refer the application to the Council Technical Evaluators for review.		 None 1 day BSP Secretariat of Concerned Council
2. Evaluation of application 2.1. Review and evaluate the application. Recommend revision, if applicable.

2.2. Technical Evaluators to submit recommendation to the Executive Director (ED) of concerned council. Notify the applicant for any revision or clarification.		 None 7 days
2 days for re-evaluation		 Council Technical Evaluators

BSP Secretariat of Concerned Council
2.3. Approve, endorse to DOST-CO, or disapprove the application. For short-term continuous engagement, proceed to step 3. None 2 days Executive Director (ED) of concerned council
For all applications under staggered, medium-term, and long-term engagements:

2.4. Forward the endorsement signed by ED to the OUSEC for R&D.		 None 1 day BSP Secretariat of Concerned Council
2.5. Receive and re-check completeness of documents. Notify Council Secretariat for incomplete application documents.

2.6. Submit to USEC for R&D.		 None 1 day BSP Secretariat of OUSEC for R&D
2.7. Approve, endorse to OSEC, or disapprove the application based on the recommendation of the ED. Recommend council re-evaluation, if applicable. None 2 days Undersecretary for R&D
OUSEC for R&D
For medium-term continuous engagements:
2.8. Return the application evaluation result to concerned Council, then proceed to Step 3.

For long-term and all staggered engagements:
2.9. Forward the endorsement signed by USEC for R&D to OSEC.		 None 1 day BSP Secretariat for OUSEC for R&D
2.10. Approve or disapprove the application. None 3 days Secretary
2.11. Transmit the final result to the BSP Secretariat of the concerned Council. None 1 day BSP Secretariat of OUSEC for R&D
3. Receive notification on the application evaluation 3.1. Notify the applicant on the final result of the evaluation. None 1 day BSP Secretariat of Concerned Council
TOTAL: None 20 days