DOST to Aid Over 10,000 MSMEs in Next Two Years

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is looking into providing assistance to more than 10,000 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the next two years as it ramps up its programs. DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. made the statement during the Sustainability Expo in Taguig City on Wednesday. "We hope to target more than 10,000 MSMEs in the next two years," Solidum said during his speech. "The DOST initiatives shown here would strengthen the country's innovation ecosystem and empower Filipino entrepreneurs to develop globally competitive products," he added. Among DOST's programs is the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP), which assists MSMEs by providing funding and technical consultancy. DOST also continues to establish innovation hubs, regional innovation centers, and technology business incubators. These serve as a workspace that will connect interested researchers to mentors, experts, and colleagues to refine their concept to workable solutions and marketable start-ups using available tools and resources. "The recent program that we are into is developing one-on-one engagements with MSME through a smart factory approach where we will look into the way they operate and how artificial intelligence, robotics, and animation can be used," Solidum said. "We want to scale up productivity by 25% to 30%," he added. Among the entrepreneurs DOST is assisting are the youth, who not only come up with innovations but also provide solutions to the problems that arise with it. "Young people have very good ideas, because they are so bold to make sure that this can be implemented. And when young people talk about ideas, they talk about the pros, the positives, the possibility of being implemented," Solidum said. "If the two, the pros and the possibility to be implemented are okay, then the last thing that they will talk about would be the problems but also the solutions to go with it," he added. Solidum said currently, DOST has no involvement on the Pax Silica, which will establish an artificial intelligence industrial hub spanning 1,600 hectares in New Clark City, Tarlac. "Wala pa kaming involvement pero palagay ko, tatanungin na kami," Solidum said in ambush interview. (We have no involvement yet, but I think they will ask us.) "Let us look at the opportunity. There's an opportunity. Pagdating sa environmental law, DENR ang mag i-implement niyan," he added. (Let us look at the opportunity. There's an opportunity. When it comes to environmental law, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources will implement that.) Pax Silica is a US-led initiative and economic security framework that hopes to create a global supply chain for AI and the semiconductor industry. The Philippines is among 24 country signatories in this agreement. The goal of the project is to process the Philippines’ critical minerals and to make high-tech components for AI and semiconductors. Three industries are expected to create jobs because of Pax Silica, that will add to the country's income and tax collection, namely: AI processing, chip manufacturing, and mining. Various groups have raised concerns over the establishment of the enormous AI center in New Clark City, pointing out that it may raise power rates, pose environmental threats, displacement, and noise pollution. —RF, GMA News