| Technology Achievement Indicator shows RP lagging behind in science By Juan Mercado, DEPTHnews April 30, 2002, Today �..Science reporters (recently) scrutinized the new United Nations Development Program�s (UNDP) Technology Achievement Indicator (TAI). TAI is calculated from patents, royalties, Internet hosts to science enrollment ratios, etc. This mint-new yardstick seeks to �capture performance in creating and diffusing technology and building a human skills base,� UNDP explains���. Slightly more than 200 Filipino inventors applied for patents, Science Undersecretary Fortunato de la Pena told congress delegates. For a comparable period and ratios, more than 9,200 patents were applied (for) by Koreans. This country ignores its scientists but goes bonkers over movie stars. Among 72 countries where the TAI �tape measure� was used, the Philippines landed 44th. In ASEAN context, Singapore came ahead at 10th; Malaysia, 30th; and Thailand, 40th. Indonesia trailed us by 16 slots. Data for Myanmar and Laos were not available yet. A society that compensates its scientists and inventors adequately � even handsomely- will get them. Thus, TAI factors in receipts from royalties and license fees in US dollars per 100,000 population. A Filipino inventor will earn less than 10 US cents compared with $994 for a Japanese, that yardstick reveals. It is $26 for a Singaporean and 30 cents for a Thai. Inevitably, people here ask: How much can a �Jose Velarde� earn?. You want innovation? Then, plunk down hard cash for research and development. As percentage of gross national product, (the Philippines) spends a measly 0.2%. More goes to pork barrel. Singapore, in contrast, disburses 1.1% and Korea 2.8% (of their GNP). Brain power is seen in the number of scientists and engineers in research and development. For every 100,000 population, city-state Singapore had 2,318; Korea, 2,193; Malaysia, 93: Thailand, 103; and the Philippines, 157���. ***** |
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