EDITORIAL
Wanted and unwanted futures
The National Innovation Council (NIC) launched the National Innovation Agenda and Strategy Document (NIASD) for 2023-2032 last September. This document outlines the 10-year vision, long-term goals, and strategies for improving the country’s innovation priorities and governance. The NIASD describes both the wanted and unwanted futures of the country. The desired future for Filipinos is encapsulated in Filipino words“matatag, maginhawa, at panatagnabuhay” while unwanted futures “masakuna, langit-lupa, at mabagal” may also happen. One possible future is when technology advances but cannot be utilized to solve the climate crisis. Natural and human-induced hazards, aggravated by climate change and governance challenges such as poor planning, coordination, and management and lack of accountability—pose risks to health, income, livelihoods, food security, human security, and economic growth. This is the masakuna scenario characterized by distress and disasters. The strategy document also describes a langit-lupa scenario where technology and innovation bring wider inequalities. In the advent of rapid advancement, technology rewards the first adopters, but in contrast, laggards and late adopters remain in deep poverty. Through rapid worldwide advancement in decentralized technologies, unprecedented changes in production, distribution, delivery, and consumption are happening across the globe. Instead of addressing challenges for vulnerable populations, these technological disruptions bring even wider gaps and inequalities in access to human development opportunities (e.g., health, education, finance, technology, and employment) and outcomes (e.g., well-being, prosperity, and resilience). Under the third scenario of slow change, Filipino creativity and innovation are not properly nurtured. The education system and curriculum are unable to foster critical thinking, 21st century skills, and competencies for career development. Theoretical and empirical studies show that there is a nexus between innovation, and growth and development. The NIASD highlights the need to increase both innovation inputs and outputs and the need toaddress constraints in translating innovation outputs into improved standards of living or the quality of life inthe Philippines. Although we want the desired future of matatag, maginhawa, at panatagnabuhay, we may still pass through a long and winding road before we reach the future that we want.