Julie and the Philippine Government invited Matthew to present at the Next Generation R&D summit, where hundreds of members of DOST, the Department of Science and Technology, met to discuss the future of emerging technologies, innovation and R&D, and their impact on the Philippine economy and society.
Taking a 30 year view, the discussion covered these core areas and the policies and visions the government needs to nurture innovation at every level of the economy. The backdrop was striking: five years earlier the Philippines ranked 111th in the world innovation rankings, it now ranked 54th with its sights set on the top 30, and the government announced it had beaten its target of 500 people per 100,000 in science and technology vocations, in a country of over 109 million citizens.
"Machines and AI can now innovate new products and content at a reasonable level, and they can do it billions of times faster than humans."Matthew Griffin, Philippines, November 2021
In his keynote Matthew set out the key industry disruptions reshaping all manner of industries, and the future of innovation itself, at a time when machines and AI can innovate new products and content at a reasonable level, billions of times faster than humans. He then examined what this means for future R&D activities and policies.
Breakout sessions followed on the future of emerging technologies, energy and materials. Their outputs will inform PAGTANAW 2050, the government's national Science and Technology strategy.
