The Philippines is making significant strides toward becoming a smart and innovation-driven economy, according to the 2024 Progress Report on the Implementation of the Philippine Innovation Act. Released by the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev), which serves as the Secretariat of the National Innovation Council (NIC), the report showcases key milestones in the country’s innovation journey.
The sustained reforms have led to the country achieving its highest-ever global standing in innovation, soaring to 50th out of 139 economies in the 2025 Global Innovation Index (GII).
Landmark Initiatives and Global Recognition
“The Progress Report shows how our reforms are translating into stronger innovation governance, more responsive programs, and a growing culture of creativity and collaboration,” said DEPDev Secretary and NIC Vice Chair Arsenio M. Balisacan. “We are building an environment where innovation becomes a critical enabler of productivity, competitiveness, and inclusive development.”
The country’s chief economist noted that the record GII ranking “affirms the positive results of innovation-focused strategies” under the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028.
A key highlight of the year was the launch of the Presidential Filipinnovation Awards. Institutionalized by Executive Order No. 99, signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on October 6, 2025, the new platform will serve to formally recognize and honor Filipino innovators and enterprises whose market-ready ideas contribute to national progress. This initiative is designed to inspire wider participation across the country’s innovation ecosystem.
Enhanced Strategy and Governance
The report also details the operationalization of essential governance tools:
- National Innovation Monitoring and Evaluation Matrix (NIMEX): A newly introduced, unified framework designed to track innovation performance and ensure government programs deliver measurable outcomes.
- National Innovation Agenda and Strategy Document (NIASD) 2023-2032: NIMEX, alongside the NIASD, provides a strategic roadmap for scaling research and development, strengthening innovation financing, and nurturing innovation talent.
Other key accomplishments outlined in the report include the continued rollout of innovation grants, the conduct of policy studies and capacity-building initiatives, the expansion of the NIC Secretariat’s organizational structure, and the celebration of the 2024 National Innovation Day.
“The progress we’re seeing today is built on the strong groundwork laid in recent years,” Balisacan added. “By sustaining our progress in implementing our strategies, we are enabling more Filipinos to contribute to and benefit from a competitive, knowledge-based economy.”
The Philippine Innovation Act (Republic Act 11293), which established the National Innovation Council (NIC) and positioned innovation as a key driver of inclusive development, was signed into law on April 17, 2019.
