DOST, Digital Pilipinas partner for decentralized innovation hubs | Roderick Abad

THE Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has tied up with Digital Pilipinas (DP) to build university-based innovation centers across the country.

During the recent virtual Nascent Technology Summit, Science Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña signed a memorandum of understanding with DOST-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD) Executive Director Dr. Enrico Paringit, and DP Convenor Amor Maclang, which highlighted DP and DOST’s regional strategy to innovation and technology. 

The pact came a month after DP forged a tripartite collaboration with Mapúa University and the DOST-PCIEERD to launch the Think and Tinker Laboratory-Technology Business Incubation (TBI) program that pushes academe-industry-government partnership. TBI was the pilot project for the university-based innovation hubs.

“We must do more to empower problem-solving on a regional level. Problems are best solved by the people who experience those problems. That is what makes the DOST and the PCIEERD so critical,” Maclang said.

While financial technology is gaining ground in the country, specially when it comes to the digital payments and logistics spaces triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Philippines still lags behind its neighboring countries in Southeast Asia, according to de la Peña.

“As we continue to revolutionize technology, we should keep our advancement inclusive and accessible,” he said, while thanking the DP for its initiatives. “We believe that the private sector is key in achieving our goals through collaboration.”

Paringit, on their part, proposed for an “Innovation Council” to “share meaningful discourse among movers.”

“We need to fast track the developments of innovation and technology. Digital commerce is on the rise, and some businesses thrived during the pandemic. We must also prepare the Philippines for smart technology cities where citizens have the freedom to make choices,” he noted.

During the event, Monetary Authority of Singapore Chief Fintech Officer Sopnendu Mohanty discussed how important the transition to Web 3.0 is. 

“As futurists and technologists, we bring a lot of new terms. The shift towards Web 3.0 is about data inclusion, and it is more consumer-based on how data will be used, the use of blockchain, and the future of money to more emerging areas,” he said.