DTI to create regional innovation centers

THE Philippines is set to link stakeholders and integrate the key elements of the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem by creating connected creative communities called regional inclusive innovation centers (RIICs) in different parts of the country.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said RIICs will improve the innovation performance of the country by closing the gap between government, academe and industry to make collaboration, coordination and sharing of knowledge, resources, projects and facilities more efficient.

“These RIICs are envisioned to be at the heart of Philippine economic transformation and serve as a linchpin of productive collaborations between and among industries, universities, government agencies LGUs (local government units), startups, MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises), R&D (research and de- velopment) laboratories, S&T (science and technology) parks, incubators, FabLabs (fabrication laboratories), investors, among many other agents in the ecosystem,” said Rafaelita Aldaba, assistant secretary of the DTI’s Industry Development and Trade Group, in a presentation during a recent conference on innovation.

RIICs recognize the diversity of regional and local conditions across the country and will be built upon the existing elements of the ecosystem in the regions, she added.

RIICs will link various DTI and Department of Science and Technology (DOST) projects such as shared services facilities, FabLabs, R&D centers, food innovation centers, Negosyo Centers, technology business incubators and technology transfer offices. Support mechanisms (incubators, accelerators, co-working spaces) and service providers (logistics, accounting, e-services) will also be key features of RIICs.

Pilot regions for setting up the RIICS are Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Davao and Legaspi. Other major cities will be considered in the coming years, DTI said. (PHILEXPORT NEWS AND FEATURES)