The cooperation marries AVID’s core mission of fostering the development and growth of the Philippine automotive industry and the country’s economy, with DOST’s National Innovation Strategy. Set to be tackled are current issues, policies, and global trends in innovation that affect the automotive industry, with emphasis on competitiveness driven by innovative thinking.
Dubbed ICON (Innovation Congress), AVID and DOST will hold the forum proper on April 5 from 8AM to 12NN. This will be immediately followed by the opening of the Innovations in Mobility Exhibit, which will run from April 5-7, 2013 at The ICON on 32nd Avenue cor. 9th St., Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City. Admission to the congress and exhibit is free.
ICON reflects both organizations’ understanding of innovation as a driver of growth and global competitiveness for Philippine business. Working around the theme “Action Towards Viable Innovation for Development,” the event calls out to the innovative spirit of the Filipinos. AVID and DOST share the belief that the Philippines has the potential to become Asia’s innovation hub.
With the advent of the government’s new road map for the local automotive industry, ICON advances AVID’s advocacy for a comprehensive competition policy that will level the field for all auto industry players and uphold consumer interests.
“AVID member companies take pride in the innovation philosophies of the top world brands that we represent. Innovation has driven us to become formidable players in the automotive industry. This is why we laud and commit to support the National Innovation Strategy of the DOST. We have a shared vision and commitment to foster and intensify a mindset for innovation that will boost our country’s ranking in the global competitiveness indexes, with the end of being recognized as a worthy player in the global business arena,” explained AVID President Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo.
“This partnership with AVID will significantly contribute to promote public awareness of Filipinnovation. ICON will be a ‘delivery room’ for more innovation that will foster a shift toward a ‘smart’ society… of integrated systems that will bring about bigger improvements in the areas of smart agriculture, health services, smart traffic management, energy, and meteorology and weather forecasting to name a few. Innovation is something we should encourage. It is the only way that we can transform our resources into something that would benefit the Filipino people,” said DOST Secretary Manuel Montejo.