Manila, 2013 – Philips initiated the ‘Meaningful Innovation’ program in Indonesia, Korea, Thailand and Singapore in 2011. Through the program Philips underpins its commitment to define and deliver meaningful innovations to improve the quality of lives of people in Asia Pacific. This year the program was rolled out across Asia Pacific, including the Philippines earlier this year.
Over the past month, the Philippines was hit by Super Typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan). From the destruction of basic infrastructures now pegged at P13.1 billion, health concerns, and access to healthcare, typhoon Yolanda has had an immense impact on 9.9 million people living in the Visayas region.
In response, Philips has decided to continue the ‘Meaningful Innovation’ program in the Philippines by refocusing the program fully on defining and delivering meaningful innovations to the affected communities in the Visayas. The outcome will now result in a project that aims to improve the quality of life of people living in the Visayas region by supporting infrastructure to be re-built, providing access to healthcare solution, or helping families get back on their feet. Philips will partner closely with the Department of Health (DOH), World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines (WWF-Philippines), and I Can Serve Foundation in the program moving forward.
What are your ideas to help improve the quality of life of Filipinos through meaningful innovations?
“As we continue with this program aimed at helping affected communities in the Visayas, we are giving Filipinos the opportunity to directly help fellow Filipinos through meaningful innovations,” said Philips Country Manager, Fabia Tetteroo-Bueno. “At Philips, we don’t just innovate for innovation’s sake. We innovate for your sake. We do this by listening and understanding the needs of people, families, and communities. Through meaningful partnerships, this program ultimately rallies a movement to improve the quality of lives of affected Filipinos – it is every Filipino’s program.”
The Philips ‘Meaningful Innovation’ program in the Philippines has three main phases:
Crowdsource. Filipinos are invited to submit their ideas for innovations that would address the needs of the affected communities by Typhoon Yolanda at meaningfulinnovation.asia/Philippines.com. Again, this could be through a supporting infrastructure to be re-built, providing access to healthcare solution, or helping families get back on their feet.
Curate. A group of Philips local and Global executives, together with partners will shortlist six (6) ideas from all crowdsourced ideas based on set criteria. Filipinos will then be invited to vote for the innovations that would best address the needs identified. The most voted idea becomes the project to be delivered.
Deliver. By teaming up with government, NGOs, and the Filipino people, the very first Philips ‘Meaningful Innovation’ in the Philippines will be delivered to the Visayan community chosen.
With over 120 years of innovation heritage, Philips partners with Filipinos to help pave a way for a better future for typhoon affected Filipinos by delivering meaningful innovations.
Deadline of submission of entries is until December 20, 2013. For more information on the “Innovation that Matters to You” program in the Philippines you can visit www.meaningfulinnovation.asia/philippines. For more information on the program in Asia Pacific you can visit www.meaningfulinnovation.asia.