NEDA to launch long-term innovation plan in April

MANILA, Philippines — The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) is set to launch the country’s long term plan for innovation in April this year.

In the Philippine Innovation Act Progress Report, NEDA said the National Innovation Agenda and Strategy Document (NIASD), which will provide the country’s 10-year vision, long term goals and strategies for improving governance on innovation priority areas is now being finalized.

NEDA said the formulation of the plan was separated in two parts, with the National Innovation Agenda, which lays down the overall innovation framework and priority areas, adopted and approved by the National Innovation Council (NIC) last July.

The second part or the National Innovation Strategy will detail the strategies and overall implementation plan.

“This (National Innovation Strategy) will be launched on April 21 during the National Innovation Day,” NEDA said.

While NEDA was initially looking to roll out the NIASD last year, its launch will be done this year, as the agency had to complete the Philippine Development Plan for 2023 to 2028.

Through the NIASD, the government aims to accelerate innovation efforts, including programs that target the poorest of the poor.

It also aims to promote public-private partnerships, including those with large businesses, micro, small and medium enterprises, academe, and research, development and engineering institutions.

Under Republic Act 11293 or the Philippine Innovation Act, the NIC was created to set the country’s innovation goals, priorities, and long-term national strategy by crafting the NIASD.

The NIC  is composed of the NEDA Secretary as vice chairperson; heads of government agencies such as the departments of Science and Technology, Trade and Industry, Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources, Health, Transportation, Energy, National Defense, Information and Communications Technology, Budget and Management, Education, Interior and Local Government, Foreign Affairs, and Labor and Employment, Commission on Higher Education, and Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines; as well as seven executive members from the private sector.

It has identified 10 national priority areas for development, funding, and innovation for the next 10 years. These are: learning and education; health and well-being; food and agribusiness; finance; manufacturing and trade; transportation and logistics; public administration; security and defense; energy; and blue economy and water.