Tech not enough for MSMEs—PIDS

The Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) is urging lawmakers to institutionalize the Shared Service Facilities (SSF) project, warning that the program’s success depends on bridging the gap between academia and small businesses.

- By RICARDO M. AUSTRIA

In a position paper released Monday, Feb. 3, the state-run think tank expressed support for seven House bills seeking to mandate the establishment of SSF-Fabrication Laboratories in higher education institutions nationwide.

However, PIDS senior research fellow Francis Mark A. Quimba noted that simply placing high-tech equipment in universities will not guarantee economic returns unless the legislation addresses the historical disconnect between schools and the private sector.