THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and the Department of Information of Communications Technology (DICT) will work together to form programs that will accelerate innovation in the country, said DTI Undersecretary Nora Terrado.
The official, who was in Cebu City last week for the launching of Startup Island PH, DTI Cebu’s newest mentorship program in cooperation with the DOST, emphasized how innovation is a priority for the Philippine economy.
“We want to create new businesses that are born global, driven, and ambitious and one that can scale. While it is about providing solutions, it should be solutions which the market will buy,” she raised.
In a separate press conference, DOST Undersecretary Rowena Cristina Guevara said the agency will actively collaborate with DTI to inculcate entrepreneurship in innovation. “Innovation needs entrepreneurship to benefit society,” the official said.
One area where DOST and DTI will work together is in programs related to technology startups.
“In Cebu, there is so much evolving dreams. As an innovation island, inculcate that culture that is hungry to fill the gap, which the market needs,” Guevarra said.
Cebu is where DTI, through the DTI Cebu Provincial Office, launched the first mentorship program for technology-based startups starting February 2018 under the program Startup Island PH.
While there is no definite plan to roll out the format nationwide, Terrado raised the possibility, given the agency’s i3 strategy or the “inclusive, innovation-led, industrial strategy.” (JOG)