Philippines Forms AI Think Tank for Policy

The National Innovation Council (NIC) has approved the creation of a dedicated artificial intelligence (AI) think tank to guide the Philippine government in crafting future AI policies, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

The move, approved during the NIC’s 8th council meeting on March 26, aims to assess the country’s readiness for AI and generate insights that will support strategic policy development.

The proposed technical working group will bring together experts from the government, private sector, and academe to conduct a comprehensive study on AI capabilities, ecosystem gaps, and technological trajectories.

“If we want to harness the potential of AI, we urgently need a national approach and policy that will ensure alignment and collaboration between public and private sector efforts,” said NEDA Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan, who also serves as the NIC Vice Chairperson.

“More importantly, we must ensure that the Filipino workforce is adequately prepared to upskill and transition efficiently to these AI developments,” he added.

“To achieve this, we need to understand precisely what we are dealing with and how AI developments can be contextualized within the Philippine setting.”

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has been designated as the lead agency to establish and oversee the technical working group.

The think tank is expected to provide critical analysis on AI’s far-reaching economic and social impacts, as the Philippines navigates rapid global developments in machine learning, automation, and generative technologies.

A 2023 report by Google and Access Partnership estimates that AI adoption and digital skills development could generate PHP2.8 trillion in annual economic value for the Philippines by 2030.

The figure underscores the urgency of creating a coordinated policy and regulatory framework to accelerate safe and inclusive AI deployment in the country.

Alongside the AI initiative, the NIC also approved new implementing guidelines for the 2025 Innovation Grants, which support innovation-driven projects across sectors including agriculture, education, energy, health, public administration, transportation, and defense.

The upcoming grant cycle marks the fourth round of the Innovation Grants Program since its launch in 2022, reflecting the government’s ongoing commitment to building an inclusive innovation ecosystem.

The revised guidelines will define eligible programs, evaluation criteria, and requirements to ensure transparency and efficiency in disbursing public innovation funding.

The full guidelines will be released by NEDA in the second quarter of 2025, followed by a nationwide Call for Proposalsfor eligible organizations and innovators.

“Much work still needs to be done, and the establishment of the AI technical group, along with the release of the new implementing guidelines for the 2025 Innovation Grants, mark a significant step forward in enhancing and developing the country’s innovation ecosystem,” Balisacan said.

“As President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. emphasizes, nothing less than a whole-of-society and whole-of-government approach can ensure that we are utilizing all possibilities and resources in planning for and pursuing a more prosperous and resilient future that will benefit all Filipinos,” he added.

The NIC is mandated under the Philippine Innovation Act (Republic Act No. 11293) to formulate a long-term vision and roadmap for national innovation, with a focus on science, technology, entrepreneurship, and inclusive development.

The launch of the AI think tank is seen as a critical milestone in aligning Philippine innovation with global digital trends while addressing challenges in governance, labor transition, and technology ethics.