The Philippines and Slovenia are moving to deepen long-term cooperation on energy security, leveraging science, innovation, and stronger public-private-academic linkages to build more resilient and cost-efficient energy systems.
At the “Science2Business: Energy Resilience for Enhanced Security” conference held April 21 at the Manila Polo Club, officials from both countries highlighted the urgency of translating research into real-world solutions, especially as geopolitical tensions and climate risks reshape global energy landscapes.
Organized by the Stratbase Institute in partnership with the Embassy of Slovenia in the Philippines — Ljubljana’s first in Southeast Asia — the forum underscored a shared push for a science-to-business (S2B) approach to energy development.
Stratbase COO Rupert Paul Manhit pointed to Slovenia as a model for aligning government, industry, and civil society through research-driven innovation, an approach he said the Philippines can emulate as it positions itself as a hub for green metals and renewable energy.
“We are entering this period with important advantages. We have in place the right policy direction, with stronger support for renewable energy, infrastructure development, and digital transformation,” he said.
Manhit stressed that partnerships will be key to unlocking these opportunities: “We believe that progress is best achieved through cooperation with like-minded countries — those that share our commitment to mutual growth, ethical innovation, and rules-based cooperation… Slovenia is one such partner.”
Slovenian Ambassador Smiljana Knez affirmed her country’s readiness to work closely with the Philippines through technology sharing, academic collaboration, and public-private partnerships. She also pushed for stronger energy efficiency measures, describing them as essential to lowering costs and addressing climate risks.
Special Envoy for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga called for a “quadruple-helix” model of innovation — bringing together government, academia, industry, and communities — to address converging global threats.
“This threat convergence requires countries such as the Philippines to continuously re-examine development and security priorities in order to ensure that we attain stability and resilience through food, energy, and water security,” she said in her keynote address.
From Slovenia, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation Dr. Igor Papič underscored the country’s heavy investments in research, noting that energy resilience “in the face of geopolitical disruption is a crucial aspect of our security and sustainable development.”
“The transfer of this knowledge into practice, especially into the economy, is essential for the development and prosperity of our country. This government is fully aware of that. That is why we have made significant investment in both knowledge and its application,” he added.
Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum echoed the need to strengthen collaboration, stressing that diversifying the country’s energy sources is now “more urgent than ever” to safeguard national security.
While the Philippines may not be directly hit by the current global energy crisis, Solidum noted its ripple effects on transport and other sectors. Since 2011, the Department of Science and Technology has backed 71 projects worth ₱652 million to advance solar, wind, ocean, and waste-to-energy technologies.
“Reinforcing our resilience to climate and disaster threats is no longer optional. It is a necessity,” Solidum said. “We anticipate collaboration and solutions for both countries to prosper.”