12 November 2019 – MBC holds a roundtable discussion on increasing corporate R&D with Dr. Michael Purugganan in Makati City. Purugganan, just-retired New York University Dean of Science, CEOs and R&D heads discussed key issues that hamper R&D in the country, led by MBC trustee Rizalina G. Mantaring, MBC Vice Chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, and Unilab SVP Jose Maria Ochave. These include (1) a need for a culture of research, (2) lack in high-quality research for funding, (3) lack of talent and viable opportunities for returning talent, and (4) importance of having a formal mechanism where industry can engage academe for research. Heads of USAID’s STRIDE project, the British Embassy’s Newton Agham project, and Unilab Foundation’s STEM Leadership Alliance project participated. The roundtable was co-sponsored by USAID-STRIDE (Science, Technology, Research, and Innovation for Development).