'Tech management behind PH rise in GII ranking'

THE commercialization of technologies developed by the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) through the wealth creation program is behind the country's improved rank in the 2023 Global Innovation Index (GII), Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. said Monday.

Despite being a developing country, the Philippines has managed to move up from 59th place in 2022 to 56th among 132 economies in 2023, according to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

With the goal of providing an innovation ranking and rich analysis referencing, the WIPO measures the performance of 132 countries in terms of innovation based on the regular updates and reports submitted by each country, using 80 indicators.

«We already have a high ranking in industry outputs such as in export electronics and creative arts. But in the DoST, what we have done since last year is we targeted technologies that have provided more job opportunities and have increased production of enterprises and businesses,» Solidum said in a public briefing.

He is referring to the pre-commercialization assistance provided by the agency to improve the ideas and project proposals of the researchers, aside from the financial assistance given to the technology products.

Likewise, the agency provides a startup grant fund for inventors, researchers and app developers, which provides additional research and development to support their early stage of technologies into market-ready products.

«Science and Technology is inclusive. We also have programs for micro, small and medium enterprises, where we are providing assistance in procuring technologies to improve their businesses,» Solidum added.

Helping the MSMEs has also contributed to the commercialization of locally developed technologies, as the department has launched and promoted the establishment of Knowledge, Innovation, Science and Technology (KIST) ecozones in some academic institutions, in partnership with Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA).

KIST parks feature locally produced technologies, which also help grow MSMEs.

Aside from the wealth creation initiative, the agency has also intensified its Human Resource Capacity Development, such as the Balik Scientist