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THERE is a constant narrative in the public life of
Sen. Edgardo J. Angara: Speak with a soft voice but carry big ideas.
Substance makes the difference, not great oratory. Between poetry
and the prosaic, between Obama and Hillary, Angara is the latter.
At a packed hall of the Ateneo at
Rockwell on Wednesday, Angara was true to form. His soft delivery
did not move to an upward decibel even as he discussed what is
probably the most exciting and most electrifying issue of the
times—putting in place a culture of innovation. He was there to
deliver the 6th Jaime V. Ongpin Annual Memorial Lecture, a yearly
ritual that asks men of big ideas to deliver a lecture on an
important national issue.
But he was all business, despite
the flat cadence. He started with the context—the sorry state of
science and math education, the niggardly investment in the R and D
(research and development) field, the failure to produce engineers
and scientists at the pace countries hooked to the Knowledge Society
does. And the woeful state of basic education, which is at the root
of the prostrate status of our competence at innovation.
The technical and scientific
ecosystem around which a country really interested in joining the
league of economic and technological powerhouses is deficient,
wanting, and simply not present, said Angara, and these should be
reversed through a private sector-government-academic collaboration.
Our elementary and high school
students test poorly in math and the sciences. In a global economy
moving on the engine and drive of innovation, only 22 per cent of
our college graduates are graduates of engineering, the sciences and
information technology. Our IT schools—even the best ones—are
inferior to the IT schools of India, Thailand, Malaysia and China.
Angara is pushing hard to elevate
the state of the country’s scientific and technological innovation
work to a globally competitive level. We cannot be stuck in the BPO—medical
transcription state, no matter how many jobs the sector generates.
The growth of the country’s BPO sector is actually propelled by
India’s refusal to take more of this now—as it advances to
hardcore computing and embedded technologies.
India’s discards are now the
pride of our employment sector.
IT should be a major area of
concentration. But there are other breakthrough fields as well and
these include nanotechnology, biotechnology and nuerotechnology.
Angara, in his lecture, said that
a grand program of at least five components should be put in place
now, with the government, the private sector and the academic
community collaborating to make things happen.
First is a basic need—upgrading
science and math education in the country at all levels, from
elementary to post-graduate. Second is the building of a massive,
adequately-funded, fully supported R and D infrastructure. Third is
promoting linkages among the sectors that should take the cudgels
for innovation, specifically the public sector, the private sector
and the academic community. Fourth is transforming innovative ideas
into high value products and services and, fifth, the creation of an
innovation-friendly environment through public policy dedicated to
creating such.
The experience of India looms
large over developing countries that are struggling to be part of
this great effort at creating wondrous products of technology—and
creating wealth and getting global attention out of it. Especially
us.
As I wrote earlier, India is like
us in many respects, a fractious democracy that cannot seem to exist
without chaos and political dynasties. Yet, its educational system
thrived amid its chaotic democracy and lethal ethnic and religious
strife. Its educational system was supported and nurtured even as
its political leaders were engaged in annihilating each other.
The result: India, with its
armies of world-class digital workers, is the darling of the cyber
world, its turbaned IT engineers a very obvious presence at Silicon
Valley and other globally-famous enclaves of technology.
We can take that path. Our
politicians can fight to the death. We can make a mess of ourselves.
Our public leaders can be corrupt, indiscreet, immoral. Our
corporations can be tax-dodging scums. But even as we are engaged in
our orgies of self-destruction, the schools and the labs should be
supported, nurtured and cared for. We, too, should shield our
scientists and engineers from these unwanted bents and disturbances.
It may not be the ideal path to
the status of a technology and innovation powerhouse. But for the
moment—with our limitations and all—we have to make do with it.
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