Continuing the celebration of the 40th anniversary of NIGS, the 49th NIGS Lecture Series was given by Dr. Aristeo “Resty” Pelayo, P.G. last April 20, 2023 at the NIGS Seminar Room. Dr. Resty is an alumnus of the institute and is currently the Senior Advisor to the Chief of Staff of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. His lecture discussed current trends in research, development and innovation in fields such as artificial intelligence, 5G, Quantum Information Science, fintech and digital currency, biotech, and green energy among others. Emphasis was given on the role of government funding in driving these innovations as well as that of Higher Education Institutions like UP NIGS in producing resilient graduates who are able to harness the good of these technological advances.
Dr. Aristeo Pelayo giving a talk about science and innovation in the NIGS AVR.
The effects of the continuing strain in relations between the two biggest economies, US and China, to the Philippines and other countries were also discussed during the subsequent question and answer portion. During the lively discussion, Dr. Teofilo “Jun” Abrajano, Chief of Staff to the president of KAUST, discussed the importance of looking at China’s technological development and taking out valuable lessons which could help the students, NIGS as an HEI, and the country as a whole.
Abstract
Investments in research, development, and innovation (RDI) are crucial for countries to remain competitive in the global market. China's success in RDI serves as an excellent example of how such investments can pay off in the long run.
The current world leaders in RDI are China and the US, and whatever gap is between them, the gap between them and the rest of the world is much wider. China and the US are posed to go head-to-head in many advanced tech fields involving AI, 5G, QIS, semiconductors, biotech, green energy, and digital currency.
To benefit in a world of bifurcating technologies, nations will have to carefully navigate how and what they do in the field of science, technology, and innovation (STI). The Philippines has to focus on enhancing its STI capabilities to sustain and strengthen its capabilities for the future. Higher learning institutions, such as the University of the Philippines, play a vital role in driving sustainable STI ecosystems. They must facilitate the integration among research disciplines, between research and education, and between research and societal needs. It is essential for the leadership in the Philippines to take a strategic approach to better position the country now by promoting collaboration with its best global strategic partners.