THE novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic is seen to drive digital innovations, a startup leader said.
Mary Rose Ofianga, co-founder of the international business support organization E3 Entrepreneurs Hub, said the abrupt transition of businesses to digitize their operations presents opportunities for local startups, especially on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) solutions.
“This drives more digital innovation in almost all sectors like healthcare, logistics, and agriculture,” she said.
She noted some innovations have already emerged in the early part of the Covid-19 crisis.
“One of the members of the Startup Community based in GenSan (General Santos) developed a Quarantine Pass (QR Pass) intended to be used by the local government as an alternative for the passes. This was offered to the Local Government of Davao for free, but unfortunately, the city already implemented the FM (Food and Medicine) Pass and cards were already printed,” she said.
Recently, the City of Mati began using a mobile application in tracing patients under investigation (PUI) and persons under monitoring (PUM).
Ofianga added that the situation hiked not only the demand for the food delivery services but also some online sari-sari stores.
She said young innovators should take the time to think of possible solutions to the existing problems.
“Make use of digital media and digital tools to validate the ideas they have in mind. They can start reaching out to their target audience over social media. Identify problems that we are facing right now on a daily basis, and take time at home to think and do research on what can be done to solve an identified problem,” she said.
She said the small entrepreneurs should also make themselves visible on social media and connect with their customers.
“Take this opportunity to create online content for their audience, since people are mostly online. Talk to their customers online using digital tools and social media. Spend this time to restrategize and plan for the business after Covid-19. Join webinars and/or enroll in online courses to improve or acquire new skills,” Ofianga said.
However, she noted this trend would also mean the increase of demand for internet connectivity for businesses to reach and serve far-flung areas.
“I hope that our telcos (telecommunication companies) will continue to better their services, or even waive some of the fees to help us save money in this time of crisis,” she said.
Ofianga also urged the public to support local innovations and startups, whether as consumers and customers.
She said the government should also utilize these local innovations and help promote them to others.
Meanwhile, the National Academy of Science and Technology (Nast) Health Sciences Division has proposed to the Department of Science and Technology (Dost) to encourage the conduct or enhancement of research and development in the areas of epidemiology, diagnostics, therapy, prevention and the development of vaccines, and host factors.
“In all of these initiatives, sharing of information within and among scientists, researchers, and institutions both here and abroad will help us build on each other’s strengths and accelerate the race for finding the solutions and the answers to many of our questions,” Nast said in a statement.
“Scientific research and development remain our most effective weapon to confront them and the [Covid-19],” it added.
In the recent report from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) revealed that among the drivers of innovation in Asia that should inform policy are “sound education systems, innovative entrepreneurship, conducive institutions, deeper capital markets, and dynamic cities that bring together top universities and forward-thinking firms.”
It was also found that while firms in developing Asian countries innovate a lot, most of the innovations by firms improve existing products or processes incrementally.
“This explains why reported innovation rates are higher among firms in low-income countries with greater scope for incremental, catch-up innovation. In the region as a whole, firms that are relatively innovative are usually larger, older, active exporters, or engaged in information and communication technology (ICT) or high-tech manufacturing,” ADB said.