City strategies on research, innovation pushed
The City Council, during last Monday’s regular session, approved on first reading a proposed ordinance providing for city policies and strategies on research and invocation creating an innovation alliance between the local government, economic industry, non-government organizations and higher education institutions.
Further, the ordinance sought to adopt a quadruple helix model of innovation, providing funds for the same and for other purposes.
The ordinance will provide guidelines for the promotion, integration and strengthening of city programs, policies and strategies that will ensure effective coordination and eliminate fragmentation of innovation policies and programs at all levels in the city; promote public participation in the innovation process; strengthen public information on intellectual property rights; promote productive form of interaction between the scientific community and the public and discover other opportunities for interactions; support the creation and diffusion of new knowledge, products and processes; explore, promote and protect the potentials for innovation of research initiatives of higher education institutions and non-government organizations and strengthen and deepen interactions and partnerships among different actors from the public and private sector, academe, research and development institutions and communities towards promoting inclusive growth and improving the quality of life through innovation.
The ordinance provided for the creation of a public-private partnership in innovation alliance in the city to be known as ‘INCUBATOR BAGUIO’ and develop a local branding for innovation shall be utilized as a major platform for the innovation continuum between the local government and research and innovation partners.
The ‘INCUBATOR BAGUIO’ shall be composed, but shall not be limited, to the City Mayor – Convenor, CIBIKA Features Laboratory, Baguio City, heads of higher education institutions or their duly authorized representatives – Co Convenors; City Planning and Development Coordinator – Action Officer and Chairperson, Committee on Ethics, Governmental Affairs and Personnel, Commission on Higher Education, Department of Science and Technology, National Economic and Development Authority, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Philippine Economic Zone Authority, and representatives from other allied industries – members.
In consultations with the sectors concerned, the local government with the innovation alliance shall consider prioritizing the issues and challenges of the city and the people in food security and sustainable urban agriculture, education and academe, health, social development, environmental protection, entrepreneurship, youth, family and social work, secure, clean and reliable energy, potentials for innovation of traditional knowledge and traditional culture expressions, development of human capital and transportation services among others.
The ordinance stipulated that in order to implement the salient provisions of the measure, an innovation fund shall be set under the City Planning and Development Office amounting to P100,000. The fund shall be used to support the city’s innovation camp, research forum, support for research and innovation and promotion of innovation centers and research incubators. – Dexter A. See
