September 17, 2015 Makati Diamond Residences

The first Chemical Industries Subsector Philippine Government University Industry Research Roundtable (PGUIRR) organized by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and RTI International in partnership with the Samahan sa Pilipinas ng mga Industriyang Kimika (SPIK) through the Science, Technology, Research, and Innovation for Development (STRIDE) Program was held on September 17, 2015 at the Makati Diamond Residences.

The STRIDE Program is a five-year Php1.3 billion initiative by the USAID that aims to spur inclusive economic growth by boosting science and technology research. One of its initiatives is the PGUIRR that is intended to provide a forum for science and technology leaders from industry, government, and academia tackle various technical topics and issues that are of critical importance to the innovation ecosystem of the Philippines.

Dr. David Hall of USAID STRIDE welcomed the guests and participants from different government agencies, industry sectors and academe. Dr. Gonzalo Serafica, a consultant from the USAID STRIDE gave the overview and objectives of the PGUIRR and USUIRR. Other distinguished speakers were representatives from ADMU, UP-Diliman and DOST-PCIEERD-ITDI. The discussions were intended to identify common challenges to innovation within the chemical sector, and become an instrumental platform for enabling science and technology to boost the competitiveness of chemical businesses in the country.

One of the highlights of the program is an industry briefing on the regulatory updates and action items on the issues and challenges of the chemical industry. An update on the forthcoming 14^th Asia-Pacific Responsible Care Conference (APRCC) was also presented.