PH, UAE to push for coop on artificial intelligence

Top photo: Philippine Ambassador to the UAE Hjayceelyn M. Quintana, (4th from left), with H.E. Hussain Al Mahmoudi (3rd from left), CEO of Sharjah Research Technology Innovation Park (SRTIP), the Embassy’s partner in organizing the AINNOVATE Forum, Dr. Enrico Paringit (3rd from right), Executive Director of the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD), and Dr Prospero Naval (2nd from right) President and CEO of Filipino startup Fish-I. Also in the photo are Ms. Marlene Murphy (2nd from left), President of the Philippine Partnership Circle which co-organized the event, and Consul General Marford M. Angeles (extreme right), who moderated the Forum. Bottom photos: (Left photo) Amb. Quintana (middle), Dr. Paringit and other guests at the event share a light moment with H.E. Al Mahmoudi. (Right photo) Amb. Quintana delivers her remarks highlighting AI as a new frontier in the much-expanded PH-UAE bilateral relations. (Abu Dhabi PE photo)

ABU DHABI, 08 February 2022 — Upon the invitation of the Philippine Embassy in the UAE, a delegation from the Philippine Department of Science and Technology (DOST) visited the UAE from 03-06 February 2022 to develop linkages that would benefit start-up initiatives on artificial intelligence.

Forum Hosted in Sharjah

First stop was the Sharjah Research Technology Innovation Park (SRTI Park) where the Philippine Embassy and SRTI Park jointly hosted a forum, held on 03 February 2022, that highlighted PH policy and program on artificial intelligence. The forum, entitled “AINNOVATE: The Philippine Experience in Artificial Intelligence (AI), was keynoted by Philippine Ambassador to the UAE Hjayceelyn M. Quintana, and SRTI Park CEO Hussain Al Mahmoudi. The event was attended by the UAE and Filipino business communities.  Featured speakers were Dr. Enrico Paringit, Executive Director of the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD), and Dr Prospero Naval, President and CEO of a Filipino startup named Fish-I.

The forum created awareness of the many AI applications the Filipino AI community created through the years, specifically on marine and environmental protection, agriculture, energy, among many others.

Mr. Mahmoudi spoke on the readiness of SRTI Park to work with the Philippine Government and Filipino start-ups on AI.

Sharjah Investment and Development Authority CEO Mohamed Juma Al Musharrakh  cited the opportunities offered by Sharjah for Investment in various fields and welcomed the prospect of having Filipino start-ups investing in Sharjah and doing business in the region through Sharjah. Both CEOs see the enormous potential should the Philippines and the UAE work together.

On the other hand, Amb. Quintana said that the UAE’s Year of the Fiftieth ushered in opportunities for the Philippines and the UAE to embark on trailblazing, non-traditional knowledge-based areas of cooperation, such as space cooperation which the two sides initiated last year.

For his part, Dr. Paringit gave an overview of the Philippine AI strategy through DOST’s upskilling programs for more than 350,000 graduates of AI-related courses, and bolstering the AI curriculum, encouraging AI startups and building partnerships with other countries to further strengthen the Philippines’ AI-readiness. An example of a successful startup is Fish-I, represented by its President, Dr. Prospero Naval, Jr., from the University of the Philippines College of Engineering, who demonstrated Fish-I’s semi-automated fish census system for the quick, accurate identification, numbering and monitoring of over 3,000 fish species across the Philippines, which helps in the preservation efforts for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). He narrated his journey from the academe to entrepreneurship and encouraged Filipinos to pursue their dreams.

A panel discussion was moderated by Consul General Marford Angeles and Vice Consul Paola Ebora, which discussed practical ways the Philippines and the UAE can move forward with AI cooperation through possible exchanges between the academic communities of both countries, creation of linkages between PH and UAE AI startups.

Meeting With UAE Office of Minister of State for AI

Photo: Upon the initiative of Ambassador Quintana, the Philippine Department of Science and Technology delegation led by Dr. Enrico Paringit (3rd from right), Executive Director of the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD-DOST) was introduced by Consul General Marford M. Angeles (4th from left) to Office of Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications Executive Director Saqr Binghalib (2nd from left) to explore possible collaboration between the two countries in the field of AI. (Abu Dhabi PE photo)

Another highlight of DOST’s four-day itinerary was the meeting with officials of the Office of the Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, held at its offices at the Emirates Towers in Dubai.

The two sides exchanged notes on their respective experiences in building AI-readiness for the government and the people, and were able to learn from how each side dealt with the challenges in promoting AI, creating awareness within the workforce, educating the public, building infrastructure, empowering startups and companies and building partnerships with other countries and institutions. The PH and UAE delegations committed to continue working together for a possible MOU on AI cooperation.

AI Talk at PH Pavilion at the World Expo 2020 Dubai

AI was also the featured topic at the third edition of the Embassy-Bangkóta Apex Speaker Series (E-BASS) held at the PH Pavilion at the Expo on 05 February 2022. A young Filipino robotic expert, Erdzen Nathaniel Sybico was also featured during the talk together with his mother Jean who shared the story of how Erdzen’s passion for science and solving problems led him to become a Department of Education Science Scholar, the role of parents in supporting their children’s dreams, and the importance of science and technology in helping build a bright future for the next generation. Erdzen shared how meeting the Philippines’ science and technology officials further inspired him to strive for a career in engineering, focusing on mechanization and robotics.

The Embassy partnered with the Philippines Partnership Circle (PhilPaC), headed by Marlene Murphy, for both the forum in Sharjah and at the Expo. END

Top photo: Dr. Enrico Paringit (center) Executive Director of the Philippine Council for Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD) describes the Philippines’ efforts to prepare students and the workforce to be ready for artificial intelligence, with the DOST’s upskilling programs for 327,527 graduates of AI-related courses, and bolstering the AI curriculum. He also related DOST’s efforts in supporting start-ups and to build AI partnerships with 20 countries. UP College of Engineering’s Dr. Naval (extreme right), head of startup Fish-I, demonstrated Fish-I’s semi-automated fish census system for the quick, accurate identification, numbering and monitoring of over 3,000 fish species across the Philippines. Bottom photo: Dubai-based Filipino youth Mr. Erdzen Nathaniel Sybico (center) and his mother, Ms. Jean Sybico (left), being interviewed by Consul General Marford Angeles (right) at the AI Talk at PH Pavilion at the World Expo Dubai on 05 February 2022. (Abu Dhabi PE photo)

For more information, visit https://www.abudhabipe.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinUAE/.