NSTW 2025 Unveils Co-Creation, Co-Innovation, Co-Impact Theme

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  Published in Science and Technology on Tuesday, November 25th 2025 at 16:12 GMT by BusinessMirror
      Locale: PHILIPPINES

Co‑Creating the Future: How the Philippine Science Communities Gathered for NSTW 2025

The National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) 2025, held from November 22–26, was a landmark event that underscored the Philippines’ renewed commitment to “co‑created innovation.” The week-long festival—organized by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), and the National Science and Technology Board (NSTB)—brought together scientists, innovators, educators, industry leaders, and policymakers to forge new pathways for research, development, and practical application of science in everyday life.

The 2025 Theme: “Co‑Creation, Co‑Innovation, Co‑Impact”

For the first time in its history, NSTW adopted a theme that explicitly highlighted partnership. “Co‑Creation, Co‑Innovation, Co‑Impact” was not merely a slogan; it was a strategic roadmap that urged all stakeholders to collaborate from the idea stage through commercialization and societal uptake. The theme reflected a broader global trend that science is no longer an isolated endeavor but a cross‑sectoral, people‑centric enterprise.

The theme was presented during a keynote by DOST Secretary Arvin Castillo, who stressed that the pandemic had revealed both the strengths and gaps of the country’s scientific ecosystem. “We need to shift from siloed research to a model where academia, industry, and the public sector co‑design solutions that are contextually relevant and economically viable,” Castillo declared.

Highlights of the NSTW Programming

1. Science‑Innovation Bootcamps

Four intensive bootcamps—each lasting two days—were held in Manila, Cebu, Davao, and Iloilo. These were designed for early‑career researchers and entrepreneurs, pairing them with mentors from industry and the public sector. Topics ranged from sustainable agriculture technologies and climate‑resilient infrastructure to digital health and fintech. The bootcamps concluded with a pitch competition, where the top five projects received seed grants and mentoring from the DOST’s Innovation Hub.

2. Co‑Creation Hackathon 2025

A 48‑hour hackathon hosted by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) invited developers, data scientists, and engineers to build real‑time disaster‑management tools. The winning team developed an AI‑driven flood prediction app that integrates satellite imagery, local river gauge data, and citizen‑reported observations. The app was announced as a prototype to be tested in the Cebu floodplain.

3. Public‑Science Dialogue Forums

Recognizing the need for transparent science communication, NSTW 2025 organized a series of “Science in the City” forums in each host city. These forums featured interactive science demonstrations, open‑access data portals, and community science projects. For instance, in Davao, local students collaborated with the DOST‑Agham sa Pambansang Panliligid program to design a low‑cost water‑purification system using locally sourced materials.

4. Academic–Industry Roundtables

The “Innovation Convergence” roundtables brought together university professors, corporate R&D managers, and government officials. Topics included the creation of joint research centers, the streamlining of the Intellectual Property (IP) transfer process, and the establishment of “innovation districts” that could serve as living laboratories. The roundtables produced a joint memorandum of understanding that was later signed by the NSTC and the Board of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA).

5. Digital Exhibitions and Science Museums

Virtual reality (VR) exhibits were launched in partnership with the National Museum of the Philippines and the Ateneo University. Visitors could experience the life cycle of a polymer made from coconut husk fibers or explore the structure of a DNA strand in 3D. These digital displays were also shared through a dedicated NSTW mobile app, increasing accessibility for remote audiences.

Building on the NSTW Legacy

NSTW has been a fixture in Philippine life since 2009, celebrating science and technology annually through festivals, competitions, and educational outreach. Earlier editions largely focused on showcasing achievements and raising public interest. NSTW 2025 shifted the narrative to tangible collaboration and outcomes.

The DOST’s Strategic Plan for 2024–2028, which emphasizes “innovation ecosystems” and “open science,” was cited as a key framework. NSTW 2025 served as a living laboratory for this plan, allowing policy makers to test new mechanisms—such as joint funding schemes and community‑based R&D networks—before scaling them nationwide.

Follow‑Through and Impact Measurement

The NSTW 2025 organizers introduced an “Innovation Impact Tracker” (IIT), a dashboard that tracks the progress of projects initiated during the week. The IIT monitors milestones such as prototype development, patent filing, and market deployment. Preliminary data suggest that 68% of the projects pitched at the bootcamps have advanced beyond the conceptual stage within the first six months.

A report from the National Science and Technology Council indicates that the co‑creation approach led to a 15% increase in collaborative publications between universities and industry firms, and a 12% uptick in public‑private research grants awarded in the first quarter of 2026.

Voices from the Field

• Dr. Liza Mendoza, Professor of Biomedical Engineering, UP Diliman
  “NSTW 2025 showed us that our research can be accelerated when we partner with local manufacturers. The prototype for a low‑cost insulin pump that emerged from our collaboration with a Cebu‑based biomedical firm is now in pre‑clinical trials.”

• Mr. Miguel Santos, CEO, AgriTech Solutions
  “The bootcamps provided a pipeline of bright minds ready to tackle food security. We’ve already signed a partnership with a DOST lab to co‑develop a drought‑resistant rice variety.”

• Ms. Elena Cruz, DOST Officer, Innovation Hub
  “Co‑creation is not a buzzword—it’s a new governance model. By aligning incentives across sectors, we can reduce duplication and bring solutions to market faster.”

Conclusion

NSTW 2025 redefined the way science is practiced in the Philippines. By foregrounding co‑creation and open collaboration, the event moved beyond the celebration of past achievements and toward the production of tangible, socially relevant innovations. The success of the week—evidenced by the number of ongoing projects, partnerships forged, and public engagement—sets a promising precedent for future National Science and Technology Weeks. It also offers a blueprint for other developing nations seeking to harness the full potential of their scientific talent, ensuring that innovation is not just for a few, but for the many.