The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has forged partnership with higher education institutions (HEIs) in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) to set up Technology Business Incubators (TBI) and to support startups in the community towards technological sustainability.
DOST Secretary Fortunato “Boy” T. de la Peña said the DOST-CAR partnered with Saint Louis University (SLU) and University of the Cordilleras (UC) “to develop their respective TBI to support startups in the community that use modern technologies as the primary means of innovation.”
He noted that the partnership was made under the watch of the DOST-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD).
“The UC Innovation and Nurturing Space (UCIANS) TBI and the SLU Convergent Resilience Technology (ConRes) TBI are among the 20 national higher education institution (HEI) grantees of the DOST-PClEERD’s Higher Education Institution Readiness for Innovation & Technopreneurship (HEIRIT) that provides funding and trainings for entrepreneurial support particularly in the regions since 2018,” the DOST chief cited.
He said the UCIANS TBI provides business and technology transfer opportunities to stakeholders from the health sector, academe, and local government units.
“In total, there have been 27 startup incubatees under the UCIANS TBI, apart from 4 active ones,” he said.
The SLU ConRes TBI, on the other hand, collaborates with the local government unit (LGU), business sector, and academe to provide support and services for incubating tech solutions toward commercialization that are aligned to their banner program, Smart Mountain Engineering Solutions, de la Peña said.
"The Center has incubated 18 startup programs with 4 active incubatees. It has a co-working and innovation space, a 3D prototyping lab, and the FabLab, a shared service facility with the Department of Trade and Industry for prototyping, digital simulation, and manufacturing,” he said.
He said both programs are expected to continually engage and assist various stakeholders towards technological sustainability.
“DOST-CAR enjoins entrepreneur partnerships with TBIs not only for economic opportunities of technology adopters but also to spur innovative ideas that generate value for public use,” de la Peña said.