Grassroots Innovations exhibited during the 2023 GICE Expo
The Department of Science and Technology XI (DOST XI) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) celebrated local ingenuity and sustainable solutions during the Grassroots Innovation for Circular Economy (GICE) Expo 2023.
The expo showcased an impressive array of ingenious solutions developed by Filipino innovators from grassroots communities to address concerns in their respective contexts.
In his welcome remarks, DOST Secretary Renato Solidum, Jr. emphasized the importance of grassroots innovations in contributing to the sustainable development of the country through viable means of raising income, addressing social needs, conserving the environment, and preserving our culture.
“As we scale up the program on the national level, the challenge for us now is to locate more grassroots innovations and systemically examine how these can be fully supported to continuously contribute to our sustainable growth,” Solidum said.
UNDP Philippines representative Dr. Selva Ramachandran also highlighted the need to transition to a circular economy which is important for sustainable development.
“Prosperity must not be achieved at the expense of the environment. The circularity of the economy is a strategic safeguard that will contribute to ensuring that such prosperity is sustainable,” he said.
The expo provided a platform for the display of ingenious Filipino creations both from the formal and informal sectors, made of various local materials and it also allowed productive and collaborative discussions between the innovators and potential investors and mentors.
A series of engaging discussions were also delivered by grassroots innovations and circular economy champions from the Philippines, Malaysia, and India shedding light on the immense potential of grassroots innovations for widespread impact.
Keynote speaker and Senator Hon. Loren Legarda also stressed the importance of placing innovation at the heart of the government’s development policies which is embodied in the Philippine Innovation Act.
“If we harness the ingenuity of Filipinos, we can embark on a transformative journey leading to sustainable progress and prosperity,” Legarda said.
The Langkit Weaving of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and CARAGA's Sustainable Fuel Via Community-Based Biomass Gasification System were hailed as national winners for the Grassroots Innovation and Circular Economy categories, respectively.
As the GICE Expo concluded, the participants expressed gratitude for the conduct of the event and committed to continue supporting innovative, sustainable, and circular economy principles.
DOST XI Regional Director Anthony Sales, who is also the project leader of the Grassroots Innovation for Inclusive Development Program, said that strong collaboration is equally relevant for the success of the GIs and circular change.
“Grassroots innovations and strong grassroots movements can help bring about an inclusive, sustainable, and circular change,” he said.
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