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By APD writer Melo M. Acuña
Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia said technological disruptions have reached the Philippines.
Speaking at the Department of Trade and Industry’s Inclusive Innovation Conference 2019 earlier today, Dr. Pernia said the Philippines ranked 54th out of 129 economies in the 2019 Global Innovation index, with a marked improvement of 19 places from the previous year. He said the Philippines has become part of the “innovation achievers” with the ranking it received.
“NEDA, together with the Departments of Trade and Industry and Science and Technology has engaged with several Philippines-American Academy of Science and Engineering (PAASE) members-based in the Philippines and the United States in building our country’s Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) ecosystem toward the Philippine Development Plan to become a globally competitive knowledge economy and enhancing the economy’s growth potential,” he said.
With the Philippine Innovation Act, current gaps in the Science, Technology and Innovation sector where centers will be established in four different regions across the country with physical infrastructure, critical support including access to finance to start-ups.
“The study also points out that small firms hardly access technical assistance from the government and research institutions. This is something that both the government and the private sector can work on given that we share the same goals,” he added.
Secretary Pernia said he is excited and encouraged with the digitally-savvy millennials and entrepreneurs.
“We hope they will turn concepts into start-up businesses, and identify social needs that can be solved through digital solutions, innovative products and services,” he explained as the country prepares to harness opportunities from the Industry 4.0 by investments in human capital.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
