Department of Science and Technology (DoST) Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr., at the United Nations Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for Sustainable Development Goals held 7 to 8 May 2025 at the UN Headquarters in New York, showcased the Philippines’ efforts in utilizing science, technology, and innovation to bring solutions locally and with partner developing countries in the international community.

Solidum, who led the Philippine delegation, made his presentation at the Forum’s ministerial session entitled, “Harnessing science and technology for the effective delivery of sustainable, resilient and innovative solutions.”

He highlighted the DoST’s science and technology intervention packages through the DoST Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST) Program and technological support to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through the DoST Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP).

The DoST Secretary also underscored the contributions of the DoST and the Technical Cooperation Council of the Philippines in promoting South-South Cooperation, which includes 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 the provision of 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),” Solidum said in the Forum’s thematic session on making AI accessible, inclusive and beneficial for all.

The DoST Secretary said the Philippines has launched several big projects related to AI, analytics, and the application of STI for sustainable development.

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 smart and sustainable cities and towns in 80 Philippine provinces which entails the application of smart technologies including AI for their governance, business process, and economic development.

As a maritime nation, the Philippines is committed to protect and conserve oceans, seas, and marine life. In another thematic session that discussed leveraging science to conserve, restore and sustainably use ocean and coastal ecosystems, he urged stronger commitments to be made by the international community on marine biodiversity conservation, environmental protection and climate-resilient ocean governance.

To provide examples on how science, technology and innovation can be maximized to sustainably use the ocean and coastal systems, 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.