The government aims to create more regional inclusive innovation centers (RIICs) in different parts of the country amid goal to institutionalize the connected creative communities in an effort to improve innovation performance.

Trade Undersecretary Rafaelita Aldaba said the RIIC, a major recommendation of Inclusive Filipinnovation and Entrepreneurship Roadmap, is being piloted in Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Legaspi and Cebu.

“To me, issues here are the sustainability (of the current activities that are taking place), institutionalization, and how do we expand to other regions because right now, we are piloting these in four key cities all over the country,” she said.

Aldaba bared there are some areas that are requesting the department to help them establish their own RIIC.

She said the country launched the Filipinnovation and Entrepreneurship Roadmap that focuses on addressing the gaps in innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem by building RIICs.

“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 added.

The trade official urged stakeholders to work together to build the RIICs.

“Let us all join hands and work together and collaborate as we build the RIICs and as we embrace Industry 4.0 technologies to improve the competitiveness of our industries and leapfrog the industrial development and foster the growth and development of our innovation and startup ecosystem,” Aldaba said.

The centers will provide a directory of regional products and services, and serve as venues for startups and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to connect and network with industry experts for them to enhance their entrepreneurial know-how and enable them to be Industry 4.0-ready.

The RIICs, a cornerstone of Inclusive Innovation Industrial Strategy (i3S), will build upon the existing industry clusters in the regions and capitalize on the cluster strategies being implemented by the national and local governments.

The country’s industrial policy known as i3S (Inclusive Innovation Industrial Strategy) aims to grow and develop globally competitive and innovative industries with strong forward and backward linkages.