Should nations prioritize investment in research and technological innovation over other sectors for

long-term development?

According to Maridon Sagahun (2024), Assistant Secretary of DOST, science and technology
play crucial role in the country's development. They are the key towards continuous progress.
Prioritizing investment in research and technology innovation is necessary, especially that we are
still in the list of the developing countries. Investing in research and technological innovation
leads to numerous benefits that can have long-lasting effects on a nation's development. One of
the main advantages is the potential for increased productivity and efficiency in various
industries. By advancing technology and innovation, countries can improve their infrastructure,
healthcare, education, and other sectors, ultimately leading to economic growth, which means
that prioritizing investment in research and technology innovation does not mean that we will
disregard other sectors, in fact it’s the other way around. A study by the Organisation for
Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) found that a 10% increase in research and
development (R&D) expenditure can result in a 4% increase in GDP growth over the long term.
Research and technology innovation has the capacity to develop new products which could
provide more job opportunities and boost economic growth. For instance, the clean energy
industry has expanded because of developments in renewable energy technology, which have
also reduced dependency on fossil fuels and opened new job opportunities. It also includes the
online development resources and enhancing access to quality education for all students.
Additionally, according to Serdyukov (2023), raising the quality and scale of innovations in
education will positively affect education itself and utilize the whole society, which means that
prioritizing investment in research and technology innovation can improve quality education,
especially that it is a pressing issue in the Philippines since then. The research of National
Library of Medicine (2023) highlights that research and technology innovation drives healthcare
more than any other force, and in the future, it will continue to develop. Scientists, doctors, and
all those who work in the medical field have developed new medical treatments and diagnostic
tools necessary for treating diseases and providing quality healthcare services. The research of
Gelijns and Thier (2023) say that technological innovation in medicine covers the wide range of
events by which a new medical technology is discovered or invented, developed, and
disseminated into health care. Another one that could prove how research and technology
innovation have affected the other sectors in a positive way including in the field of education,
healthcare, and economy. UNICEF wrote in their article that the pandemic forced schools and
universities to close, disrupting learning for millions of students worldwide. According to a
report by UNICEF, over 90% of the world's student population were affected by school closures
at the height of the pandemic. While the World Health Organization said that the healthcare
system has been overwhelmed by the surge in Covid-19 cases, leading to shortages in medical
supplies, hospital beds, and healthcare workers. Many non-essential healthcare services were
also suspended to focus on treating Covid-19 patients. Economically, the International Monetary
Fund said that the pandemic led to widespread job losses, business closures, and economic
downturns. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projected a global economic contraction of -
3.5% in 2020 due to the impact of Covid-19. Research and technology innovation have played a
crucial role in preventing and battling Covid-19 through the development of vaccines and
treatments. Through R and T innovation, we can restore other sectors that have been affected by
the pandemic. In the research of Cororaton, he studied the research and technology innovation
gaps. Research and technology innovation gaps are defined as those factors that have prevented
the economy from operating at its full potential. One of those gaps include low investments in
research and technology innovation. If these statements prove that prioritizing research and
technology innovation can boost other sectors, why won’t we open a view in prioritizing
investments? When innovation occurs, positive impact is inevitable.