San Francisco PCG photos
SAN FRANCISCO – The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, led by Consul General Neil Ferrer, hosted a meeting and networking event for science and technology diplomats based in the San Francisco Bay Area on March 19, 2024 at the Philippine Center.
The event – attended by members of a network of science attachés, including convenor Dr. Florence Chaverneff, Senior Science and Innovation Officer of the British Consulate General in San Francisco – provided an invaluable platform for the diplomats to exchange insights and approaches in engaging science, technology, and innovation (STI) diasporas.
Consul General Ferrer made a presentation, which underscored the contributions of diasporas to the socio-economic growth of their communities at both national and global levels.
“As we talk about engaging our diasporas in the fields of science, technology and innovation, it bears noting that they have significantly contributed to fostering economic development in this country and globally – other countries where they have grown roots and contributed to their adoptive communities,” said ConGen Ferrer.
Highlighting the achievements of Filipino immigrants and first-generation Filipino Americans in the Bay Area and Silicon Valley, Consul General Ferrer mentioned luminaries such as Dado Banatao, who pioneered the personal computer (PC) chipset and graphics acceleration architecture, which remain two of the foundational technologies in all PCs. The Banatao family supports the Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society (CITRIS) and the Banatao Institute at the University of California, Berkeley, and a number of educational initiatives in STI in the Philippines through the non-profit PhilDev.
Consul General Ferrer reaffirmed the Philippine government’s commitment to fostering innovation through programs like the Balik Scientist (Returning Scientist) Program (https://www.pchrd.dost.gov.ph/news_and_updates/balik-scientist-program/), which encourages Filipino scientists to stay in the Philippines for a period of time and contribute to scientific research and development.
The Philippine consul general also highlighted the consulate and the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Silicon Valley’s engagements with the community and public-private partnership with a co-working space and startup accelerator Dynamico Space in supporting Philippine startups. He also mentioned a consulate initiative to register students and alumni in the U.S. for tailored activities.
The consulate’s participation in the event is aligned with the Philippine government’s National Innovation Agenda, which focuses on priority areas crucial for national progress.
Science Attachés from the Consulates General of Chile, France, Hungary, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, as well as Philippine Consulate representatives Consul Vanessa Bago-Llona and Trade Commissioner Celynne Layug participated in the meeting.
Dr. Chaverneff and Dr. Emmanuelle Pauliac-Vaujour, Science and Technology Attaché of the French Consulate, made presentations on their experiences in engaging their own STI diasporas. (PCGSF Release)
