In 2022, the Global Innovation Index of the Philippines experienced a drop of 8 places, falling from its 51st position in 2021 to the 59th spot. This decline in rank was attributed to an oversight to prioritize and sustain technological innovation efforts within the country. More specifically, the Philippines’ ranking in both Innovative Inputs and Innovative Outputs decreased from 72 and 40 in 2021 to 76 and 51, respectively, in 2022. With this, this year’s Hyper Interdisciplinary Conference overall theme is “Convergence of Reformative Technologies for Localized Solutions” which will tackle the coming together of transformative technologies to address unique challenges within the country. This concept highlights the integration of innovative technologies and methodologies to create tailored solutions that cater to the specific needs and circumstances of Philippine communities. This convergence aims to drive sustainable development, enhance efficiency, and improve the lives of Filipinos on a local scale.

The Philippines is a country experiencing rapid population growth and possessing a youthful workforce. As the nation progresses, it becomes increasingly important to ensure that its education system keeps up with the evolving times. A key strategy to accomplish this is by integrating cyber technology into the education system. By incorporating cyber technology, students gain access to a vast array of information and resources, while also honing the skills necessary for success in the digital age. This session will discuss how cyber technology can be used to provide students with access to a wider range of educational resources, to personalize learning, and to improve communication between teachers and students. The panelists will also discuss the challenges of integrating cyber technology into the education system, such as the digital divide and the need for teacher training.

As a developing country that is currently experiencing a boom in population, health and well-being is something that the country should be putting a decent amount of effort in. At the same time, being a country blessed with a lot of resources that have not yet been tapped (“dormant resources”) which may be in the form of natural resources, or waste materials that can be put to good use. This session will focus on discussing technologies that use “dormant resources” to be used for wellness while addressing other impending issues such as food and waste.

The production systems of different goods can produce materials that may pose threats to the environment. With the vulnerability of the Philippines to environmental issues, finding ways to deal with such materials is very crucial. Researchers and engineers have been continuously trying to find and improve ways to do so, with the development of various technologies that may be used locally or globally. In this session, we will be featuring an environmental technology that found its way to reimagine production systems and deal with its by-products in the Philippines, and explore together how such technologies can be brought to solve or prevent environmental issues in the country.