DTI presents Filipinnovation at Asia Pacific Week in Berlin
Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) Undersecretary for Competitiveness and Innovation Dr. Rafaelita M. Aldaba (2nd from right) at the opening of Asia Pacific Week 2019 in Berlin on 13 May 2019. (Berlin PE photo)
BERLIN 24 May 2019 –Trade and Industry Undersecretary for Competitiveness and Innovation Dr. Rafaelita M. Aldaba gave audiences a glimpse of the Philippine innovation environment at the Asia Pacific Week (APW), which took place from 13 to 19 May 2019 in Berlin under the theme “Asia-Europe Dialogue on Innovation.”
Undersecretary Aldaba led a delegation of Philippine startups and venture capitalists to the annual gathering organized by the Asia Pacific Forum Berlin and the Berlin Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises. The APW has become an established platform for players in the Asia Pacific and Europe to engage with each other on key areas such as Smart Cities, Industry 4.0, Digitalization, and Startups and Innovation.
At the APW opening on 13 May 2019, Undersecretary Aldaba spoke alongside Berlin Mayor and Senator for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises Ramona Pop; Siemens AG Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Joe Kaeser, who likewise chairs the Asia Pacific Committee of German Business (APA); Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) president Dr. Eric Schweitzer; and SAP Senior Vice President and Head of Global Labs Network Clas Neumann. She was joined at the event by Philippine Ambassador-designate to Germany Ma. Theresa V. Dizon-De Vega and Commercial Counselor Althea Karen Antonio.
In her presentation, Undersecretary Aldaba hammered home the point that the Philippines, with its sound macroeconomic foundation, consistent and unprecedented economic growth, efforts to implement Ease of Doing Business, rich talent pool, and Inclusive Innovation-led Industrial (i3) strategy, is ready to be a major innovation hub in the Asia Pacific region.
She also announced that Manila will host an Innovation Conference on 18 September 2019 with participants from government, industry, and academe, and invited the APW delegates to take part in the event.
On 16 May 2019 , the Undersecretary spoke at a panel discussion on the topic “Scaling Internationally: Do smart city startups have it harder?” as part of the StartUp Asia Berlin (SUAB) night, where she shared Philippine initiatives to address urban development and other challenges through innovation. SUAB facilitates collaboration between startups and other ecosystem players in Berlin and Asian startup hubs such as Manila, Singapore, Jakarta, New Delhi, Bangalore, Beijing, Shenzhen and Hong Kong.
She also had meetings with Siemens Managing Board Member and CEO for Smart Infrastructure Cedrik Neike and Senior Director for Government Affairs for Asia and Australia Tobias Dennehy to discuss opportunities for Siemens to expand its footprint and offer more of its solutions in the Philippines in areas such as eMobility, Energy, and Smart Cities.
Undersecretary Aldaba was joined by the delegation of Philippine startups on 17 May 2019 on a study-visit of Berlin’s Adlershof Science City, where they were briefed on the measures taken by the Berlin government and its partners to lure top talent, schools, and businesses to locate in the world’s 10th-ranked technology park. END
Usec Aldaba with the Philippine startup delegation, PTIC-Berlin Team, and the Embassy’s economic officer at the Berlin’s Adlershof Science City. (Berlin PE photo)
For more information, visit www.berlinpe.dfa.gov.ph, www.philippine-embassy.de or https://www.facebook.com/PHinGermany.