GOVPH

Department of Science and Technology Secretary Renato U. Solidum, Jr. led the Philippine Delegation at the United Nations Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals at the UN Headquarters in New York on May 7-8, 2025.

At the Forum’s ministerial session entitled, “Harnessing science and technology for the effective delivery of sustainable, resilient, and innovative solutions”, Secretary Solidum showcased the Philippines’ efforts in utilizing science, technology, and innovation to bring solutions both locally and in the international community with partner developing countries. 

The DOST’s technical assistance through the delivery of science and technology intervention packages including livelihood programs to local communities through the DOST Community Empowerment thru S&T (CEST) Program and technological support to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through the DOST Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) were also featured in the Philippine Statement.

The S&T Secretary further highlighted the contributions of the DOST and the Technical Cooperation Council of the Philippines in promoting South-South Cooperation which include the technology needs assessments and training on food innovation, nutrition, and livelihood with Cambodia, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Sri Lanka, and Timor-Leste.  The Philippines has also championed the “ASEAN-helping-ASEAN” principle through providing scholarship offerings in Masters and PhD programs in science and engineering to Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Myanmar.

“The Philippines recognizes that the increasingly rapid technological advancements bring novel solutions to pressing cross-sectoral issues and improve the ways that the world is used to. A lot of these are powered by artificial intelligence (AI)”, the Secretary said in the Forum’s thematic session on making AI accessible, inclusive and beneficial for all. 

Supporting this, the Secretary cited that the Philippines has launched several big projects related to AI, analytics, and the application of STI for sustainable development. 

Sec. Solidum enumerated the DOST’s various projects such as the development of AI hubs to democratize the use of AI for the use of the academe, the industry, and the MSMEs, the establishment of the geospatial analytics and data solutions platform that will combine digital transformation into specific geographical units for better analysis and problems, and the launch of the smart and sustainable cities and towns all over the 80 provinces of the Philippines to apply smart technologies including AI for their governance, business process, and economic development.

“The Philippines, as a maritime nation, is committed to protect and conserve the oceans and seas and the life below them. Stronger commitments in the international community must also be made on marine biodiversity conservation, environmental protection, and climate-resilient ocean governance”, the Secretary highlighted in another thematic session that discussed leveraging science to conserve, restore and sustainably use the ocean and coastal ecosystems.

To provide examples on how science, technology, and innovation can be maximized to sustainably use the ocean and coastal systems, Sec. Solidum mentioned the Philippines’ “ELEV8PH”, a Big-Ticket R&D Program packed with eight key research and development programs which includes circular economy. 

The Circular Economy Program aims to address issues in the lack of supportive policy framework, comprehensive data and baseline information mapping on current circular economy practices, among others.

The call for collective science-based action for the greater good was a common recurring theme among the Philippine Statements delivered by Sec. Solidum at the STI Forum. 

The STI Forum had presentations and panel discussions on the role and contributions of science, technology and innovation to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in line with its theme “Advancing sustainable, inclusive, and evidence-based, science and technology solutions and innovations for the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs for leaving no one behind”. (By Karen Lou M. Ayson, DOST-ITCU)

Department of Science and Technology Secretary Renato U. Solidum, Jr. delivers the Philippine Statement at the STI Forum thematic session on making AI accessible, inclusive, and beneficial for all.

Department of Science and Technology Secretary Renato U. Solidum, Jr. delivering the Philippine Statement at the STI Forum.

Some of the Philippine delegates at the STI Forum (Secretary Renato Solidum, Jr. in the middle, Jesus Enrique Garcia II on the right and Karen Lou M. Ayson on the left)

Department of Science and Technology Secretary Renato U. Solidum, Jr. delivers the Philippine Statement at the 10th STI Forum’s ministerial session.

Department of Science and Technology Secretary Renato U. Solidum, Jr. delivers the Philippine Statement at the 10th STI Forum’s ministerial session

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Department of Science and Technology Secretary Renato U. Solidum, Jr. delivers the Philippine Statement at the 10th STI Forum thematic session on using science to sustainably use the ocean and coastal ecosystems