Pushing through with the annual National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) in a virtual setting, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) earned praise from a high-ranking official of the United Nations.

Dr. Shamika Sirimanne, director of the Division on Technology and Logistics of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), expressed her admiration for the country’s efficient use of frontier technologies and support for science and technology.

DOST said frontier technologies are the next generation technologies that hope to bring an inclusive and sustainable development across all economies. These technologies, which include 5G internet, artificial intelligence, 3D printing, big data analytics, robotics, and Internet herald the dawn of the Fourth Industrial Revolution as new products and services will eclipse the traditional global market.

At the opening of the 2020 NSTW, Sirimanne commended the DOST for successfully holding the annual science and technology fair featuring locally-developed technologies despite the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

She said “the commitment to advocating the role of S&T in the Philippines particularly in this challenging time is commendable.”

Sirimanne pointed out that second only to India, the Philippines is considered as one of the overperformers in the adoption of so-called frontier technologies relative to its per capita Gross Domestic Products (GDP).

According to the Pew Research Center, “countries with a higher GDP per capita generally have higher rates of smartphone ownership and internet and social networking use.”

She also mentioned that the Philippines has a “high-ranking industry” that reflects the high level Foreign Direct Investments on high-tech manufacturing particularly electronic products. Incidentally, the DOST aligns its programs to this strategy with the creation of world class facilities like the national testing laboratory called Advanced Device and Materials Testing Laboratory (ADMATEL) and the Electronic Products Development Center (EPDC).

DOST Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña welcomes this development. The DOST said the science chief underscored the importance of innovation with the many contributions of the different research and development institutes (RDIs) under its wings during the time of pandemic; technologies developed and feature in the 2020 NSTW exhibits that range from remote health devices, nutrition, alternative energy to mobile apps and other initiatives that address not only COVID-19 but also other socioeconomic problems in the country.

Last September, the DOST reported the results of the Global Innovation Index 2020 which saw the country rise to 50th rank, up by four notches from the previous year and 23 steps higher from the 73rd position in 2018.

De la Peña said that “we are also looking ahead for the years to come. We are now at the so-called Fourth Industrial Revolution. And with the things happening around us, masasabi ko na narito na tayo, handa, at buong lakas na hinaharap ang kinabukasan. Dahil ang kaunlaran natin bilang tao, bilang isang bansa, ay nakasalalay sa agham, teknolohiya at inobasyon.” (We are here, ready and determined to face the future. Our progress as a people, as a nation, is hinged on science, technology, and innovation.)