Multi-Sectoral Collaboration Wins ANVIL Award

The government - academe - private collaboration of the FILIPINNOVATION Network*** led by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Asian Institute of Management Policy Center , Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines and IBM Philippines, Inc. won the prestigious ANVIL Award of Merit for staging the first National Innovation Summit and effectively building consensus among key stakeholders in unleashing the Filipino innovative potential to propel global competitiveness and developing the country as an innovation hotspot for Asia.

The National Innovation Summit (NIS) was held in November 2007 at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel. It was an exclusive gathering of leaders from various business sectors, government and the academe – where the main highlight was the launching and presentation of the National Innovation Strategy (FILIPINNOVATION) to Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The summit also served as open invitation to several groups from the academe, local and foreign governments, and private sector to work together to help operationalize and implement the National Innovation Strategy, thus the FILIPINNOVATION network was formed.

“Innovation is one of the key components in ensuring the competitiveness of a country, its firms and its people. It magnifies competitive advantages and discovers new strengths enabling firms to be more productive and Filipinos to be more prosperous. The potential for growth brought about by innovation is as limitless as Filipino ingenuity and creativity,” said Secretary Estrella Alabastro, DOST. “Why innovate? We innovate because the Filipino, amidst the ocean of change, intends to be competitive. Innovation is the Filipino’s best response to the constantly changing environment, thus the staging of the National Innovation Summit and the creation of a National Innovation Strategy,” she adds.

According to IBM Philippines’ Country General Manger James Velasquez, “Collaboration and effective teaming were the main drivers in the success of the National Innovation Summit. Not everyone can be an inventor or a discoverer, but anyone can be an innovator.”

“We all know that the Philippine culture is very distinct – a melting pot of European, American and Asian cultures which is the result of its rich history. The country boasts of a workforce that is highly flexible and adaptable to meet industry needs and possessing a global mindset that can easily capture emerging trends. The global tides are constantly shifting to define the way countries are run, by which businesses are managed, and how lives are led,” said AIM Policy Center Executive Director Dr. Federico M. Macaranas.

"There are tremendous opportunities for everyone, and we are as creative and competitive as any other country. But we must harness our talent and resources, embrace new perspectives and technologies, to effectively promote innovation”, adds IPP Director-General Atty. Adrian S. Cristobal Jr.

Considered the "Oscars" of the PR industry, the Anvil Awards is an annual competition by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines to recognize exceptional PR programs and tools implemented in the previous year. The 44th Anvil Awards was held recently last February 20, 2009 at the Isla Ballroom, EDSA Shangri-La Hotel, Mandaluyong City.