An innovation program seeking to increase Calabarzon’s (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) regional competitiveness has been launched.
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-Calabarzon unveiled the Calabarzon Regional Inclusive Innovation Center (RIIC): Linking Innovation Networks for Competitiveness (LINC Calabarzon) on Oct. 19.
“Let us continue to work hand-in-hand towards making science work for the people of Calabarzon,” DOST-Calabarzon Regional Director Emelita P. Bagsit said during the virtual launch of the program.
The establishment of the RIICs is one of the cornerstones of the 2018 Inclusive Filipinnovation and Entrepreneurship Roadmap. It is initiated by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and DOST and supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Science, Technology, Research and Innovation for Development (STRIDE).
“The RIICs are envisioned to be virtual and physical assemblies of different programs (i.e., university extension services, industry-academe collaboration), facilities (i.e., R&D laboratories, co-working spaces, fabrication laboratories), and entities (i.e., investors, LGUs, start-ups, SMEs) in the innovation space.” the DOST-Calabarzon said.
LINC Calabarzon is one of the four expansion sites of the RIIC, said Engr. Albertson D. Amante, vice president for Research, Development and Extension of the Batangas State University (BatStateU). BatSTateU serves as the lead implementer of the program.
The three other RIIC expansion sites are Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and Zamboanga Peninsula, while the pilot sites are in Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao and Legazpi.
Amante said the RIIC catalyzes stronger linkages between and among the stakeholders in the innovation ecosystem, which includes LGUs, MSMEs, technology business incubators (TBIs), laboratories, among others.
The LINC Calabarzon features the following subprograms:
-Batangas Actions towards Revitalization and Acceleration of Kapeng Barako Industry (BARAKO);
-Business Acceleration in the Region through Ideation, Innovation and Collaboration (BARIIC);
-RIIC Virtual Collaboration; and
- Inclusive Innovation Ecosystem Mapping.
During the virtual event, USAID Office of Education Director Dr. Thomas LeBlanc hailed the partnership’s successful establishment of eight RIICs in the country amid the pandemic.
“The US government, through the USAID, is honored to support the amazing success of the Philippines in your innovation journey,” he said.