IBM to open 'innovation center' at UP IT Park

MANILA, Philippines - IBM Corp. will open next week a so-called innovation center at the University of the Philippines IT Park.

This was announced yesterday at a press conference for the second anniversary of Filipinnovation Network at the New World Hotel.

Lope Doromal Jr., chief technologist of IBM Philippines, said the center, which will open on Dec. 3, will assist the four technical working groups formed under the Filipinnovation.

“This is certainly a welcome development that will reinforce all four pillars of Filipinnovation,” Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Undersecretary Fortunato dela Peña said.

“May it help better connect Filipinos to innovations globally and serve as a venue for continuing collaboration of business, academe and government for more innovation outputs,” the undersecretary added.

The first strategy of Filipinnovation is strengthening of human capital. In order to do this, there is a need for improvements in the areas of basic education, mulit-stakeholder linkages, life-long learning and specialization.

The second strategy is supporting business incubation and acceleration efforts by creating avenues for collaboration, infrastructure and space for business incubation centers to encourage budding enterprises, incentives for “brain gain” for Filipinos abroad, business incubators that operate as communities with support services and the support of local governments.

The third strategy is to regenerate the innovation environment through education and appropriate incentives. The government should craft a clear and doable innovation strategy, increase innovation policy awareness particularly among the legislators and civil society groups, and set appropriate policies to level the playing field.

The fourth strategy is to influence the Filipino mindset towards a better appreciation of innovation. Filipinos should not settle for simply imitating other countries’ technologies or adopting existing policies of other countries.