The National Innovation Council (NIC) has greenlit the creation of a think tank to prepare the Philippines for the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI).
In a statement on Friday, March 28, the state planning agency National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said NIC last Wednesday, March 26, approved the establishment of a specialized technical group made up of experts and leaders from industry, academe, and the government.
This group will conduct a comprehensive study on the capabilities, current ecosystem, and future trajectories of AI technologies, NEDA said.
This approval during NIC’s eighth council meeting aims to establish a crucial AI think tank that will provide valuable insights into the Philippines’ AI preparedness and adoption.
The think tank’s insights will guide the Philippine government's development of AI policies, NEDA added.
According to a study by Google & Access Partnership in 2023, the adoption of AI, along with the development of essential digital skills, could generate ₱2.8 trillion in annual economic value by 2030.
This highlights AI’s potential to drive economic transformation, boost productivity, and enhance the Philippines’ global competitiveness.
NEDA Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan, who also serves as the vice chairperson of NIC, emphasized the importance of a national AI program. “If we want to harness the potential of AI, we urgently need a national approach and policy that will ensure alignment and collaboration between public and private sector efforts.
“More importantly, we must ensure that the Filipino workforce is adequately prepared to upskill and transition efficiently to these AI developments. To achieve this, we need to understand precisely what we are dealing with and how AI developments can be contextualized within the Philippine setting,” Balisacan said.
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has been designated as the lead agency for the AI think tank. The DOST will form a technical working group (TWG) to study the country’s preparedness for the transformative impacts of AI, particularly as the Philippines navigates the rapidly changing global landscape and addresses emerging AI-related developments.
Additionally, NIC has approved new implementing guidelines for the 2025 innovation grants, which outline the types of innovation programs, activities, and projects eligible for funding, as well as the criteria and requirements.
Since 2022, NIC has been providing grant support to sectors such as agriculture, health, energy, education, defense, transportation, and public administration.
The approval of these guidelines marks the fourth cycle of the innovation grants program, reaffirming NIC’s ongoing commitment to fostering innovation initiatives aimed at addressing local needs and challenges.
These implementing guidelines will be released by NEDA in the second quarter, followed by the start of the call for proposals for the 2025 innovation grants.
“Much work still needs to be done, and the establishment of the AI technical group, along with the release of the new implementing guidelines for the 2025 innovation grants, mark a significant step forward in enhancing and developing the country’s innovation ecosystem. As President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. emphasizes, nothing less than a whole-of-society and whole-of-government approach can ensure that we are utilizing all possibilities and resources in planning for and pursuing a more prosperous and resilient future that will benefit all Filipinos,” said Balisacan.