The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has teamed up with e-commerce platform Lazada Philippines to expand the digital presence of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) assisted by the agency.
The partnership, formalized on Wednesday through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, seeks to bring more DOST-supported businesses into online marketplaces by integrating the agency’s MSMEs oneSTORE initiative with Lazada’s platform.
It also aims to provide MSMEs with access to the platform’s logistics, marketing, and payment systems to strengthen their market reach and competitiveness.
‘This collaboration is especially significant because MSMEs make up more than 99 percent of businesses in the Philippines and provide over 60 percent of employment,’ Science Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. said during the signing ceremony.
He said expanding their digital footprint could help small firms keep pace with changing consumer trends and market demands.
Under the agreement, participating MSMEs will undergo training through Lazada University, which offers modules on digital marketing, supply chain management, customer engagement, and online selling.
The two parties will also co-develop targeted campaigns promoting DOST-assisted products and innovation-driven enterprises.
Lazada Philippines government affairs head John Kenneth Estiller said the collaboration is designed to help MSMEs scale up their operations and improve their competitiveness both in local and global markets.
The partnership builds on DOST’s ongoing efforts to support small enterprises through technology-based programs, such as the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program; Community Empowerment through Science and Technology; and the Science for Change Program.
From 2022 to 2024, thousands of MSMEs and local governments have benefited from these initiatives, according to the agency.
Data from the latest Global Innovation Index showed that the Philippines currently ranks third among lower-middle-income economies in innovation performance.