An enhanced version of the Department of Science and Technology’s Small Enterprises Technology Upgrading Program (Setup) will be implemented before yearend.
Setup is DOST’s program that aims to encourage and assist micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in adopting technological innovations to improve their products and operations.
“We are transitioning to Setup 4.0, to help our MSMEs in digitalization and automation part. We are enhancing the implementation of Setup to align with the industry 4.0,” according to DOST Usec. Brenda Manzano.
Industry 4.0 is defined as “the current trend of automation and data exchange in manufacturing technologies. It includes cyber-physical systems, the Internet of things, cloud computing, and cognitive computing.”
In his State of the Nation Address, President Rodrigo Duterte said the DOST is offering its enterprise technology upgrading program to help businesses transition to online and contactless operations.
Manzano said through the program, MSMEs could receive innovation enabling fund amounting to as much as P5 million, which they could pay in three to five years, as assistance in procuring the necessary equipment and training.
She said the DOST regional offices will assess the needed funding assistance of the MSMEs, and that the agency also provides one year grace period in returning the fund assistance provided.
“Last year, a team from the Metals Industry Research and Development Center was deployed in the regions to look for firms that may be willing to adopt this program. We could probably implement this (Setup 4.0) towards the end of this year,” she said.
Manzano also clarified that Setup 4.0 does not have a separate budget, as this is an enhanced version of the existing Setup program.
About 800 MSMEs can be accommodated in the Setup program in 2020, with a budget of around P860M, according to Manzano. Less than P900M is also allocated for the Setup program in 2021.
Manzano added the DOST will also prioritize the Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. members, since it has the same goal of helping the members to adopt with automation. – PNA release
April 30, 2024
