LOCAL S&T SEEN TO BENEFIT FROM BALIK-SCIENTISTS

Senator Edgardo J. Angara said the Filipino scientists and industrialists based abroad can have a great impact in the development of an innovation culture through local S&T initiatives.

Angara, Chair of the Congressional Commission on Science Technology and Engineering (COMSTE), said that a report by the commission listed the lack of high level S&T and engineering degree holders and weak R&D infrastructure are the foremost reasons why the country is lagging behind in terms of S&T development.

The Philippine American Academy of Science and Engineering (PAASE), which is a professional organization of scientists and engineers of Filipino descent who hold Ph.Ds or M.D. degrees who are in leading scientific research and technology development in the United States and other countries, has called on the government to increase the support for R&D to at least 0.5 percent of the GDP.

This is below the recommended 1.1.5% for developing countries by the United Nations (UN) or even the 1 percent recommended by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), but would still contribute to the growth of an innovation culture, said Angara.

Angara noted that a number of notable scientists from PAASE have been very active in the development of the Philippines Disaster Science Management Center (DSMC) through an ongoing lecture series about climate change and its effects on the Philippines. The lectures are evolving into more technical discussions which would center on understanding disaster science in the local setting.

COMSTE reports also indicate that a number of Filipino companies with roots in more developed countries are reaching out to coordinate with local efforts to develop Public Private Partnerships and create an industry-lead innovation culture.

COMSTE, a proponent of the Industrial Research and Development Institute (IRDI), reported that one such Filipino owned industry leader is willing to take the lead in developing the Integrated Chip (IC) design aspect of the institute.

IRDI was, "conceptualized after studying Taiwan's Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), which is essentially a PPP that conducts R&D for private sector growth. ITRI is one of the key factors why Taiwan was able to achieve economic success," noted Angara.