The country needs to adapt to new technologies to strengthen the competitiveness of local industries amid Industry 4.0, according to a trade official.

“We need to innovate and integrate into the digital economy and to form industry clusters along with pursuing more global collaboration. And for this to happen, companies must begin digital transformation as soon as possible,” said Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Undersecretary Rafaelita Aldaba.

Aldaba underscored the importance of academe and training programs especially those that need the demand for talent that is created by Industry 4.0.

“At the same time, there is also a need for us to focus on technical-vocational (techvoc program) especially in terms of preparing the workforce or the workers that would be displaced by the adoption of these new technologies and providing them with the necessary or the required skills,” she said.

The trade official said Industry 4.0 can increase productivity but may displace workers
whose tasks would be automated.

Aldaba further said the country aims to create more regional inclusive innovation centers (RIICs) in different parts of the country amid goal to institutionalize the connected creative communities.

“RIICs would serve as platforms for taking together stakeholders from government, academe, and industry towards the commercialization of research, ideas and knowledge, and the emergence of new products, new processes, and new business models,” she said.

“And very important is strong government-academe industry collaboration that will support startup development. We need to make the most of the advantages being brought by the technological developments,” she added.