The wave of the future is a generation of young Filipinos bred in a sci-tech world and ready to help the country take the big leap forward.

The Philippine S&T Development Foundation – Manila, Inc. or PhilDev S&T has launched a three-year program, in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), that aims to develop more entrepreneurs in science and technology, starting with a curriculum change in the country’s science and engineering education system.

The project, called the Innovative Development through Entrepreneurship Acceleration (IDEA) program, will foster the development of science and technology entrepreneurship education, provide trainings on market-led economic development, and develop science and engineering graduates who are adept in innovation-driven productivity.

Spearheaded by technology innovator and Silicon Valley hotshot Dado Banatao, the IDEA program will kick off with a series of hands-on entrepreneurship workshops for science and engineering students, with US and Filipino professors and entrepreneurs as mentors, from March 14-15, 2014 at the Asian Institute of Management Conference Center.

This will be followed by the IDEA Global Entrepreneurship Symposium 2014 on the themes of science and technology innovation in areas of societal need, and increasing expertise in productively utilizing such innovations. This will be held on March 17 at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel in Mandaluyong.

Keynote speakers will be Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory L. Domingo and Commission on Higher Education Chairperson Dr. Patricia B. Licuanan. Among the panelists are UP System President Dr. Alfredo E. Pascual, RFM President and CEO Joey Concepcion III, Kai Elmer Sotto of Facebook, John Mulder of Google, Senators Paolo Benigno Aquino, Sonny Angara, and Mary Grace Poe-Llamanzares, and PhilDev Chairman Dado Banatao, who will also deliver the closing remarks.

United States Ambassador Philip Goldberg will speak on US-Philippines Bilateral Programs on Education, S&T, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship while USAID Mission Director Gloria Steele will discuss the US government’s Partnership for Growth program with select countries, including the Philippines.

Acting as moderators will be PhilDev Trustees Jones M. Castro, Jr., Dr. Paco S.A. Sandejas, Ronna Reyes-Sieh, Sheila Lirio Marcelo, Martin Pascual, Denny Roja, and Eric T. Manlunas.

The panel discussions will tackle the Role of Private Sector/Entrepreneurs in Nation Building; Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the Global Market; Government Policies to Help Entrepreneurs and Remove Barriers; Building Entrepreneurial Communities; Best Practices, Challenges, and Funding Options for Entrepreneurs.

From Idea to Action

Through the IDEA program, PhilDev envisions itself to be a hub and unifying force in bringing together people and institutions with the shared vision of promoting science and technology entrepreneurship. It will provide the space for ideas to thrive and be tested, and serve as catalyst in service.

To ensure that it will be inclusive, the program will partner with the academe, private sector, and key government agencies for effective program implementation. There will be a deliberate effort to recognize brilliant minds, whose talents and skills will be directed to an economic growth path that meets domestic demands and global market competencies.

The ultimate goal will be to directly contribute to the country’s broad-based and inclusive economic growth.

For more information on the IDEA Symposium, please visit www.phildev.org.

About PhilDev:

PhilDev is a non-profit organization, registered in both the United States and the Philippines, with a mission to develop sustainable, long-term economic growth for the Philippines. The organization focuses on programs that develop the nation’s economy with the advancement of science and technology through programs in high tech education, research, and entrepreneurship training. (www.phildev.org)

About USAID:

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is the United States federal government agency primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid. The organization’s goals include providing economic, developmental and humanitarian assistance around the world in support of the foreign policy goals of the United States.

The U.S. Agency for International Development administers the U.S. foreign assistance program providing economic and humanitarian assistance in more than 80 countries worldwide. For more information about USAID and its programs, please visit www.usaid.gov

This press release is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Its content is the responsibility of PhilDev, and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.