MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday highlighted the role of science and technology (S&T) in the country's capability development, urging Filipinos to develop a culture of innovation.
"A culture of innovation, working hand in glove with a culture of entrepreneurship, must be fostered. This is 'Filipinnovation'. Science and technology, especially R&D (research and development), will be at its foundation," he said during his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Batasang Pambansa complex in Quezon City.
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) leads the development of capabilities in science, technology, and innovation, the Chief Executive added.
Meanwhile, DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. said the agency's programs have been anchored on wealth creation since the start of the Marcos administration.
The other priority pillars are promotion of human well-being, wealth protection, and sustainability, Solidum noted.
"The DOST has one of its pillars -- wealth creation -- to ramp up R&D and technology adoption and commercialization to create more enterprises and quality jobs, helping MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises) and large industries," Solidum told the Philippine News Agency.
Marcos said that to address the challenge of staying at the cutting-edge of technology, 44 renowned Filipino scientists in diverse areas of expertise have returned home under the Balik-Scientist Program.
These scientists will undertake research in various priority fields, and will be supported by upgraded facilities and R&D funding, the President said.
In response, Solidum said the DOST will engage more Balik Scientists to help research and academic institutions in doing R&D.
"We have been providing funds for scholarships of students, researchers and faculty of partner institutions, facility upgrading and R&D funding," Solidum added.
S&T to drive competitiveness of PH workforce
Marcos said science, technology and innovation will drive the quality and competitiveness of the country's workforce, as well as its manufacturing, export, creative, and service industries, in existing markets and in new ones.
The DOST has been providing S&T services through the various advanced laboratories to industry partners.
"A culture of innovation, working hand in glove with a culture of entrepreneurship, must be fostered. This is 'Filipinnovation'. Science and technology, especially R&D (research and development), will be at its foundation," he said during his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Batasang Pambansa complex in Quezon City.
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) leads the development of capabilities in science, technology, and innovation, the Chief Executive added.
Meanwhile, DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. said the agency's programs have been anchored on wealth creation since the start of the Marcos administration.
The other priority pillars are promotion of human well-being, wealth protection, and sustainability, Solidum noted.
"The DOST has one of its pillars -- wealth creation -- to ramp up R&D and technology adoption and commercialization to create more enterprises and quality jobs, helping MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises) and large industries," Solidum told the Philippine News Agency.
Marcos said that to address the challenge of staying at the cutting-edge of technology, 44 renowned Filipino scientists in diverse areas of expertise have returned home under the Balik-Scientist Program.
These scientists will undertake research in various priority fields, and will be supported by upgraded facilities and R&D funding, the President said.
In response, Solidum said the DOST will engage more Balik Scientists to help research and academic institutions in doing R&D.
"We have been providing funds for scholarships of students, researchers and faculty of partner institutions, facility upgrading and R&D funding," Solidum added.
S&T to drive competitiveness of PH workforce
Marcos said science, technology and innovation will drive the quality and competitiveness of the country's workforce, as well as its manufacturing, export, creative, and service industries, in existing markets and in new ones.
The DOST has been providing S&T services through the various advanced laboratories to industry partners.
DOST Undersecretary Leah Buendia said she believes the local industry should put R&D at the backbone of their business operations.
"This is a way to ensure that Filipino companies can survive and thrive amidst national emergencies, a pandemic like Covid-19 and even have the ability to take advantage of business disruption. I therefore encourage local companies to seek the support of DOST in unlocking their full business potential," she told the PNA.
In 2022, the DOST assisted in the establishment of 10 technology business incubators. At least 57 startups were also approved for DOST funding from 2022 to June 2023.
Collaboration, Marcos said, is key between and among government offices, private sector, industries, the academe and international partners.
He said the country has recently launched two additional satellites and together with the other Filipino-made satellites, these will track the weather, predict storms, among others.
Maya-5 and Maya-6 cube satellites were launched to the International Space Station last month. Both cubesats were developed under the STAMINA4Space (Space Technology and Applications Mastery, Innovation and Advancement) Program through the support of the Department of Science and Technology, UP Diliman, PhilSA, and Kyushu Institute of Technology of Japan.
Both Maya-5 and 6 will capture images of the earth, and have an on-board image processor that uses machine learning to classify these images. (PNA)
"This is a way to ensure that Filipino companies can survive and thrive amidst national emergencies, a pandemic like Covid-19 and even have the ability to take advantage of business disruption. I therefore encourage local companies to seek the support of DOST in unlocking their full business potential," she told the PNA.
In 2022, the DOST assisted in the establishment of 10 technology business incubators. At least 57 startups were also approved for DOST funding from 2022 to June 2023.
Collaboration, Marcos said, is key between and among government offices, private sector, industries, the academe and international partners.
He said the country has recently launched two additional satellites and together with the other Filipino-made satellites, these will track the weather, predict storms, among others.
Maya-5 and Maya-6 cube satellites were launched to the International Space Station last month. Both cubesats were developed under the STAMINA4Space (Space Technology and Applications Mastery, Innovation and Advancement) Program through the support of the Department of Science and Technology, UP Diliman, PhilSA, and Kyushu Institute of Technology of Japan.
Both Maya-5 and 6 will capture images of the earth, and have an on-board image processor that uses machine learning to classify these images. (PNA)
