UNION Bank of the Philippines Inc. (UBP) and Global Learning Solutions Pte. Ltd. (GLS) were tapped by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for the trade department’s digital transformation program, the DTI said.
The DTI said it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the two entities “to intensify collaboration on digital transformation.” The trade department said officials and executives signed the agreement after the inauguration of the UBP’s Innovation Campus.
“DTI puts science, technology and innovation at the heart of the country’s industrial policy to grow and develop globally competitive and innovative industries and achieve sustainable, inclusive and resilient industrial transformation,” Trade Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual said.
“We are grateful to [UBP] and the [GLS] for partnering with DTI in making the vision for the country’s twin innovation facilities possible,” Pascual added. However, the DTI didn’t disclose the value of the partnership.
The trade department said that the agreement mandates the establishment and operation of the Center for Artificial Intelligence Research, or “Cair,” and the Industry 4.0 Pilot Factory, or “I4PF.”
The DTI said Cair is among its initiatives to make the Philippines an AI “Center of Excellence” and will be crucial in boosting artificial intelligence’s contribution to the economy.
The DTI said the AI Center will serve as a hub where data scientists and researchers can perform collaborative AI research and development (R&D). To complement the Cair, the I4PF will host pilot, demonstration and learning laboratories for relevant technologies including robotics, intelligent manufacturing and cyber-physical systems.
Deal details
UNDER the agreement, DTI will spearhead activities for collaboration and cooperation among stakeholders. Meanwhile, for UBP’s part, it will house the AI center and the pilot factory at UBP’s “Innovation Campus” for free, according to documents provided by the trade department.
The UBP Innovation Campus is a 5-story building the lender envisions as an R&D technology hub and a launch pad for “game-changing solutions and innovations.”
The building will also house the Asian Institute of Digital Transformation (AIDT), an entity jointly established by UBP and GLS as a corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative to help the public and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through exchanging knowledge in business technology and innovation.
The DTI said the UBP will also take the lead as the primary industry and digital innovation partner for all the activities and initiatives on digital transformation that shall be executed under the collaboration.
Meanwhile, the DTI said GLS will serve as the department’s official training and learning partner for workshops and learning sessions of SMEs, which the DTI said will be free of charge. The trade department said GLS is tasked to provide experts for events and activities organized under the partnership.
Private sector support
THE trade department said the agreement was made pursuant to the Philippine Innovation Act of 2018, which calls on the government to adopt a broader view in crafting its innovation goals and strategies.
“DTI recognizes the need to embrace industry 4.0 technologies and will continue to pursue digital transformation to enhance productivity and competitiveness, develop new industries, create more and better jobs and attract new investments,” Pascual said.
The MOU was signed by Trade Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual, UBP President and CEO Edwin R. Bautista and GLS CEO and Founder Roger Collantes during the 2022 UnionBank Innovation Festival last September 9.
Aside from UBP and GLS, the trade department has also been coordinating with other partners in the private sector to fast-track digital transformation.
For instance, with the rebranding of PayMaya Enterprise as “Maya Business” last month, the DTI chief said the government will not be able to achieve its digital transformation goals alone. He added that with the private sector’s “agile mindset and disposition,” it has to play a key role particularly in implementing the digital evolution of enterprises.
Further, Pascual earlier said that digital players and stakeholders in the private sector “will set the direction and pace of this change, both independently and in conjunction with related public programs.”