TITLE : The SETUP Transformation

FORMAT : Audio-Visual Production

LENGTH : 3 - 5 minutes
MODE : Recorded
PRODUCER : Bluqube

Role and contribution of MSMEs

The country’s micro, small and medium enterprises or MSMEs have been critical drivers of
economic development - fostering growth, employment and income for countryside development.
MSMEs cover 99.6% of the country’s enterprises and has generated around 5.7 million jobs
nationwide in 2018.

Challenges
However, the MSMEs face various challenges particularly in accessing technical support:
• Lack of access to technologies
• Inadequate production equipment and facilities
• Poor product and process innovation
• Deficient management systems
• Unskilled workforce
• Low technical competency

Client testimonials (Interview)

Featuring SETUP clients who talk about their business history, how they started and the challenges
in business.
1. Thelmie’s Dried Fish
2. Herbanext
3. HyBrain
4. Trappist

**Quality Pipes / Fuji Pipes

Talking points:
1. Brief introduction about the owner and the firm
2. How did your business start?
3. What were the major problems you encountered early on?

SETUP as Solution
Due to these challenges, DOST implements Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program or
SETUP.

SETUP has been at the forefront of supporting the development of MSMEs through technology and
innovation since 2003. Through SETUP, a range of firm-level assistance is provided such as
technology training, consultancy services and Innovation Enabling Fund or iFund.
Client testimonials (Interview)
Featuring SETUP clients talk about their gains from SETUP.
1. Thelmie’s Dried Fish
2. Herbanext
3. HyBrain
4. Trappist

Talking points:
1. What were the services you availed from DOST SETUP?
2. How did these services help you in improving your productivity and competitiveness?

More than 45,000 firms assisted. More than 200,000 individual employments generated. More than
55,000 technology interventions provided. SETUP is proof of the pervasive impact of science,
technology and innovation to MSMEs.

However, new challenges have emerged despite these gains.

Stepping into SETUP 2.0

In 2019, DOST introduced SETUP 2.0. This improved program of SETUP implementation
incorporates interventions at the industry level aside from addressing firm-level S&T constraints.
Under SETUP 2.0, industry S&T roadmaps and improved consultancy and training services have
been developed.

SETUP 2.0 aims to transform our local enterprises into SMARTER SMEs - Socially-Responsive,
Market-Oriented, Agile, Resource-Efficient, Technology-Intensive, Environment-Friendly and
Resilient.

Client testimonials (Interview)

SETUP clients talk about their gains from SETUP 2.0. However, with the new business landscape,
there is a need to to shift to a higher level. Clients verbalize on how they can adjust to meet the
new requirements of consumers.
1. Thelmie’s Dried Fish
2. Herbanext
3. HyBrain
4. Trappist

Talking points:
1. Are there any new challenges in your business that emerged in the past 2 years?
2. How did you address these new challenges?
Emergence of SETUP 4.0
Now, as the country enters into unchartered grounds of the ‘new normal’, the MSMEs have to once
again adapt and survive the challenges particularly posed by the changing business climate through
the emergence of Industry 4.0 and the CoViD-19 pandemic.

With this, DOST shifts to the Smart Enterprise Transformation and Upgrading Program 4.0 or the
SETUP 4.0. It harnesses both enterprise and industry-level assistance to help MSMEs maximize
their full potential and increase their Industry 4.0 readiness.

This time, SMARTER MSMEs stand for Sustainable economy, Market competence, Able human
capital, Responsive S&T support infrastructure, Technology and innovation, Enterprise support and
Resilience and continuity.

Conclusion
With its many phases, DOST through SETUP has the unwavering commitment to provide relevant
S&T support grounded in the vision of a resilient, sustainable and globally-competitive MSME
sector.

Moving up and stepping up, this is our SETUP transformation. What’s yours?