The Philippines’ ranking in the 2021 Global Innovation Index (GII) report has slipped to 51st, but is considered as among “catching up” nations.
The GII report published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) of the United Nations (UN) ranked 132 economies based on 81 different indicators amid the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic. The country ranked 50th in 2020.
Beyond China, the Philippines is among the “catching up” select middle-income economies together with Turkey, Vietnam, and India which “have the potential to change the global innovation landscape for good.”
The Philippines was also recognized in terms of innovations in the business sector which resulted in having the same, or even surpassing the level of some high income economies.
Based on the report, the country ranks fourth among the 34 lower middle-income group economies and 11th among 17 nations in Southeast Asia, East Asia, and Oceania.
The Philippines also ranks 24th in knowledge and technology outputs and 33rd in business sophistication.
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) said it will continue to provide support in the growth of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through innovation projects such as Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (Setup).
“And now we are on the verge of establishing the Virology and Vaccine Institute of the Philippines. Very soon, I hope the Philippines [will] be able to develop its own brand of vaccine for use [by] Filipinos and other nations as well,” DOST Sec. Fortunato Dela Peῆa said.
The DOST is also pushing for the Science for Change bill that will further support MSMEs through network linkages and provision of research and development capacity. – Report from Ryan Lesigues/AG- jlo
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