By Dhel Nazario Recognizing the opportunity to support the creation of the Philippine Space Agency, the Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) top officer sought to firm up the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Space Cooperation with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency or JAXA during the Nikkei Conference on the Future of Asia. Department of Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato dela Peña (TOTO LOZANO/ Presidential Photo / MANILA BULLETIN) According to DOST Secretary Fortunato de la Peña, the MOU provides the Philippines access to satellites and their applications (remote sensing, navigation, communication, disaster risk reduction.); co-development of satellites; joint research and access to launch vehicles; and capacity building for policy and technology development, as well as human resources upgrading. DOST will also seek to open opportunities of sending more scholars to prestigious universities in Japan to pursue advanced degree programs in areas identified under the Harmonized National Research and Development Agenda but are not yet offered in local universities in the country. The Nikkei Conference on the Future of Asia annually gathers leaders of business and government to share their assessment of Asia’s prospects and their positions on the trajectory that Asia should make and take for itself. At the conference, President Rodrigo Duterte top-billed a roster of eminent speakers who will cover industry, the digital economy, commerce and trade, economic revitalization, and finance. De la Peña, at the sidelines of the Nikkei, also met with Tetsuiji Kawakami, senior managing director of the Association for Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Partnerships, to discuss opportunities for technical and management training either in Japan or onsite in a Japanese-affiliated company in a developing country particularly in ASEAN.