Science Secretary Fortunato de la Peña shared the Philippines’ experience to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in promoting and investing in innovation through providing grants in research and development (R&D).
Dela Pena bared to the 68th Trade and Development Board Session of UNCTAD the strategies undertaken by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in bridging the innovation and R&D divide in the Philippines through universal internet access, public-private partnership to upskill workers in frontier technologies, heavy investment on education and strong international cooperation.
DOST continues to assist communities, startups and micro, small and medium enterprises, he told UNCTAD, the highest United Nations body on trade, investment and development issues.
De la Peña pointed to DOST’s CRADLE Program or Collaborative Research and Development to Leverage the Philippine Economy; Business Innovation Through Science and Technology Program (BIST); and NICER Program or Niche Centers in the Regions for R&D.
The Nutritional Genomics Laboratory, Advanced Device and Materials Testing Laboratory (ADMATEL), Electronic Product Development Center, Metrology Center Facility devoted to Chemistry, Modular Multi Industry Innovation Center, Advanced Manufacturing Center, Advanced Mechatronics Robotics & Industrial Automation Laboratories, Green Packaging Center and the Simulated Packaging Testing Center are in place to cater to frontier technologies, de la Peña said.
UNCTAD recognizes the Philippines as second only to India as an overperformer in the adoption of frontier technologies relative to its per capita gross domestic product (GDP).
Frontier technologies are the next generation technologies that include fifth generation internet, Artificial Intelligence, 3D printing, big data analytics, robotics and the Internet of Things — new technologies that are changing the global market.
Countries with a higher GDP per capita generally have higher rates of smartphone ownership and internet and social networking use.
The country’s “high-ranking” industry reflects the high level foreign direct investments on high-tech manufacturing particularly electronic products, according to UNCTAD.
As part of its programs to embrace frontier technologies, DOST has established world class facilities like the ADMATEL, a national testing laboratory.
Established in 2013, ADMATEL caters to the semiconductor industry to provide fast and high-quality testing services to local manufacturers.
It upgrades their failure analysis and materials testing with comparatively lower rates than when these are conducted abroad. The turnaround time of 24 hours is shorter compared to the five to six-day release of results of other facilities.
ADMATEL is part of DOST’s Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI). ITDI’s National Metrology Laboratory provides reference materials that are used to confirm methods and assess the accuracy of measurement results.
