Tuguegarao City—The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has further strengthened its research, development efforts and competences in numerous programs paving the Philippines in ascending its ranks in the Global Innovation Index (GII) in the past years.
Secretary Fortunato de la Peña said DOST’s efforts in leading science, technology, and innovation are bearing fruits citing that the Philippines is now 50th among 131 economies in this year’s Global Innovation Index the Philippines’ best rank ever.
The Philippines has climbed the Global Innovation Index ranking from 73rd in 2018 and 54th in 2019 besting 131 countries in 80 indicators that were grouped into innovation inputs (ranked 70th) and innovation outputs (ranked 41st).
In 2014, just six years ago, the country still ranked 100th.
“I am pleased that we inched steps higher than last year in the GII rankings. Should we just continue with the increasing undertaking, we will be able to achieve what we have in mind as a medium-term goal to be in the top one-third by 2022,” he said.
De la Peña said that to achieve this goal, the DOST would focus on its Science for Change Program (S4CP), which identifies the areas that need an enhanced research and development investments and innovations.
The DOST will focus on its startup programs, strengthening research and development (R&D) in university research centers, deploying R&D leaders to the regions or provinces.
DOST has consider this as a major news since it can be considered as an evidence of the departments effort in advance strategies employing science, technology and innovations as drivers of socio-economic growth and development in the countryside, Sec De la Peña said.
The Philippines along with other three economies namely China, Vietnam and India has made the most significant progress in the GII innovation ranking over time.
Compared to other economies in South East Asia, the Philippines performs above average in two of the seven GII pillars: Business sophistication and Knowledge & technology outputs.
The Philippines stands out for the innovativeness of its business sector and the innovation outcomes produced by its investments, with levels of outcomes that remain even above some high-income economies.
Further, the country ranks 4th among the 29 lower middle-income group economies and 11th among the 17 economies in Southeast Asia, East Asia, and Oceania.
The country is also well integrated into global trade, ranking 1st in High-technology imports; 3rd in High-technology exports; and 8th in ICT services exports as well as 10th in Creative goods exports.
Among its highest ranking indicators, Productivity growth ranks 6th, Firms offering formal training 7th, and utility models by origin ranks 8th globally.
Its innovation profile shows top 25 rankings for indicators such as Graduates in science and engineering, Market capitalization, Research talent in business enterprises, and High-technology manufacturing.
The Secretary explained that the GII ranking helps place innovation definitely on the policy map of economies and can guide leaders in incorporating scientific innovation as part of their economic strategies and are determined based on seven pillars, namely Creative Outputs, Institutions, Human Capital & Research, Infrastructure, Market Sophistication, Business Sophistication, and Knowledge & Technology Outputs.
The DOST has strongly supported the growth of micro, small, & medium enterprises (MSMEs) through projects like the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP), making them highly competitive even on the global stage. The department has prioritized initiatives that are proven to be extremely useful during the COVID-19 pandemic such as locally-developed test kits, biomedical devices, disease model, and other useful apps.
The country’s ranking in university/industry research collaboration is in the upper 25% of the GII 2020. This is consistent with the increasing number of R&D partnerships between academe and industry that DOST has supported in the Science for Change Program, particularly in the Collaborative Research and Development to Leverage the Economy or CRADLE.
The latest GII ranking of the Philippines is a great source of hope and inspiration for all Filipinos who are facing uncertainties in the midst of the current pandemic.
This milestone has shown that doing and applying science for the people’s good is a good strategy and mission, he said.
While the Philippines ranked 50th in the 2020 Global Innovation Index (GII), de la Peña said he is eying to achieve the 43rd place by 2022.
