The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) recognized the Philippines’ efforts on science, technology, and innovation (STI) in its recent two published studies.
The two studies, “Industry 4.0 for Inclusive Development” and “Science, technology and innovation for sustainable urban development in a post-pandemic world” benefited mostly from the inputs provided and discussions held at the 2021-2022 intersessional panel meeting of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) of the UN.
The Department of Science and Technology, which represents the Philippines in the commission, actively participates in the conferences of the CSTD and also submits its inputs to the priority themes being decided upon and adopted by the CSTD.
In the study “Industry 4.0 for Inclusive Development”, UNCTAD recognized the Philippines’ efforts in fostering the adoption of Industry 4.0 by raising awareness among businesses, investment, and financing deployment. Referring to the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) of the DOST, the study mentions the Philippine government implements a “small enterprise technology upgrading programme to encourage and assist SME to adopt technological innovations to improve operations and boost productivity and competitiveness.”
Some of the national initiatives stated in the inputs of the DOST to the CSTD Issues Papers were incorporated in the study; one of which is the Philippines’ Inclusive Innovation-led Industrial Strategy aimed at removing obstacles to growth to attract investment.
The other contribution showcased in the publication is the country’s passing into law Republic Act 11377 or the Innovative Start-up Act, which includes the provision of partial or full subsidies on the use of facilities, office space and equipment or services by start-ups provided by the government or private enterprises and institutions, as well as grants for research, development, training, and expansion projects.
The UNCTAD’s CSTD Secretariat developed the publication to assist the commission in its deliberations at its twenty-fifth session. The CSTD secretariat has prepared this study based on relevant literature and country case studies contributed by CSTD members. – Press release
