The National Innovation Council (NIC; Filipino: Pambansang Konseho sa Inobasyon) is the Philippine government's highest policy-making body established to develop the country’s innovation goals, priorities, and long-term national strategy established by virtue of Republic Act No. 11293 or the Philippine Innovation Act of 2018.[1] It is headed by the president of the Philippines as chairman of the NIC, with the Secretary of Socioeconomic Planning as vice-chairman. The primary function of the NIC is in the formulation and development of the National Innovation Agenda and Strategy Document (NIASD), the management of the National Innovation Fund, and in monitoring the Global Innovation Index (GII) ranking of the country.[2]
The NIC is operationalized by the National Innovation Council Secretariat which also functions as the Innovation Staff of the National Economic and Development Authority's Policy and Planning Group.[3]
As defined by the law, "innovation" refers to the creation of new ideas that results in the development of new or improved policies, products, processes, or services which are then spread or transferred across the market.[1]
The NIC is also mandated to have seven (7) executive members from the ranks of business, entrepreneurs, academe, and the scientific community of which the President of the Philippines is the appointing authority.
National Innovation Agenda and Strategy Document (NIASD)
The National Innovation Agenda and Strategy Document (NIASD) is the Philippine government's 10-year foresight and innovation plan which establishes the country’s vision and long-term goals for innovation consistent with the country’s long-term vision, and with global and regional commitments. The document is mandated to have "innovation priority areas" and a roadmap consisting of strategies to improve innovation governance across government agencies through the following:
coordination of innovation policies, programs and projects across agencies and LGUs;
deepening and accelerating innovation efforts, including inclusive innovation programs that target the poorest of the poor;
integrating and fostering public-private partnerships, including those with large businesses, MSMEs, academe, and RD&E institutions;
recommend measures to enable and empower public and private higher education institutions (HEIs) as knowledge producers and technology generators; and
the creation, protection, and commercialization of intellectual properties.