The Department of Science and Technology (DOST), along with other government agencies, will assist micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in adopting digitalization and electronic technology in their businesses, in compliance with the directive of the President in his recent State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA).
DOST Secretary Fortunato dela Pena, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez, and Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary William Dar agreed to have a unified program on training, technology transfer, and online marketing to help firms and individuals who are currently engaged and will engage in food and agricultural production and livelihood.
The DOST has started the initiative through its Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) 4.0 and the Advanced Mechatronics, Robotics and Industrial Automation Laboratory (AMERIAL) project.
SETUP 4.0 is an upgrade of SETUP, a nationwide strategy encouraging and assisting MSMEs to adopt technological innovations to improve their products, services, and operations and increase their productivity and competitiveness. It now aims to bring them to the Industry 4.0 level.
According to the DOST, Industry 4.0 is the digital transformation of industrial markets (industrial transformation) with smart manufacturing currently on the forefront. It represents the so-called fourth industrial revolution in discrete and process manufacturing, logistics, and supply chain. It also encompasses the chemical industry, energy, transportation, utilities, oil and gas, mining and metals, and even smart cities.
On the other hand, the AMERIAL project is in cooperation with Mechatronics and Robotics Society of the Philippines (MRSP). One of the project’s objectives is to conduct R&D activities related to mechatronics, robotics, and automation for SETUP beneficiaries.
The DOST Regional Offices and Metals Industry Research and Development Center (DOST-MIRDC) have assessed existing SETUP beneficiary-firms and forwarded recommendations for automation of some of their processes.
Ongoing are discussions with the firms on how to pursue the recommendations and determine the assistance that DOST will provide.