DOST Advances National AI Strategy to Power Inclusive Innovation
DOST Strengthens National AI Strategy for Inclusive Innovation
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming key sectors in the Philippines from healthcare and agriculture to education and disaster resilience. Across industries, AI technologies are creating new opportunities, improving services, and helping address long-standing challenges.
Generative and spatial AI, in particular, are driving breakthroughs in personalized learning, climate-smart urban planning, precision farming, disaster response, smart energy systems, autonomous transport, national security, and financial inclusion. Innovations such as AI tutors, predictive analytics, and automated services are enhancing education, sustainability, safety, and economic access for Filipinos.
But for Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr., technological advancement must go beyond innovation for its own sake. It must be accessible, ethical, and responsive to real societal needs.
A Bold Step Forward: The National AI Strategy
In his keynote address during the 2025 National Innovation Day celebration held on April 30 at Novotel in Quezon City, Secretary Solidum announced DOST’s proposal for a National AI Strategy for the Philippines (NAIS Ph).
“Building on these milestones and the momentum of a whole-of-government approach, it is now time to take the next bold step. To ensure that our efforts are strategic, inclusive, and future-ready, we are proposing a National AI Strategy for the Philippines or NAIS Ph. Ito ang ‘NAIS’ natin para sa Bagong Pilipinas,” Solidum said.
The proposed strategy envisions a unified national framework where AI fuels inclusive innovation, strengthens governance, uplifts communities, and drives globally competitive industries. Central to this vision is the Philippine AI Program Framework, which will guide AI development, deployment, and governance through 2028.
Current initiatives focus on strengthening infrastructure, enhancing workforce capabilities, advancing technologies, and shaping responsive policies. These efforts are organized around five core strategies: infrastructure, workforce, innovation, ethics and policy, and deployment implemented in phases from 2024 to 2028.
According to Solidum, these strategies will support AI applications in agriculture, education, smart cities, creative industries, and national security. Key government agencies including the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), DOST, Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) are working together, alongside the private sector, to build a cohesive AI ecosystem.
“Ultimately, by 2028, we envision a future where AI powers inclusive innovation, strengthens governance, uplifts communities, and drives globally competitive industries, building a sustainable, tech-enabled future for all Filipinos,” Solidum said.
Building a Collaborative AI Ecosystem
At the heart of the strategy is the creation of a Collaborative AI Ecosystem anchored on four key elements.
The AI Factory will focus on workforce development, infrastructure expansion, governance, policy, and ethical standards to accelerate AI integration across sectors. Meanwhile, the AI Refinery will drive research, development, and innovation by linking innovation hubs, academia, and the private sector to practical, real-world applications.
Through collaboration among government, industry, academic institutions, international partners, and the public, the ecosystem aims to empower communities and promote widespread AI adoption nationwide.
Secretary Solidum also emphasized the urgency of upskilling and reskilling the Filipino workforce. DOST is encouraging higher education institutions to expand AI micro-credentials and continuing education programs to meet growing demand.
“For DOST, we will also leverage platforms like Coursera and SPARTA for scalable, fast-track learning. To improve course completion rates, we will encourage trainees to have a clear AI deployment plan before enrollment and work closely with organizations to ensure that newly acquired skills are directly applied in the workplace,” Solidum said.
Expanding AI-Driven Research and Scientific Computing
To strengthen the country’s research and innovation capacity, the Philippines aims to increase its high-performance computing (HPC) power by 26 times by 2028. This significant upgrade will be supported by enhanced global network connectivity, enabling stronger AI-driven research collaborations and positioning the country as a regional leader in digital transformation.
A key component of this initiative is the establishment of a National HPC Center, along with regional HPC sites to bring advanced computing resources closer to researchers across the country. Solidum underscored that infrastructure alone is not enough; sustained regional, national, and industry partnerships will be essential to building a resilient and globally competitive research and development ecosystem.
DOST is also promoting decentralized AI adoption by equipping its regional offices to introduce AI solutions to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and local industries. An AI Hub, or i-Hub, will function as a matchmaking platform assessing regional needs and connecting industries with customized AI solutions powered by autonomous AI agents.
“These investments ensure the Philippines is not just participating but helping shape the future of AI and scientific computing,” Solidum said, highlighting the country’s ambition to lead in innovation and technological advancement.
Through the proposed National AI Strategy, DOST aims to ensure that AI becomes a transformative force one that strengthens institutions, empowers communities, and builds a more inclusive and technologically advanced Philippines.
