Rewarding ingenuity

Swiss Embassy holds Innovation Prize Competition

Dec 12, 2023 05:00 AM

Groufie with Ambassador Bruhl.jpg — Groufie with H.E. Amb. Dr. Nicolas Brühl

Aimed at fostering creativity and supporting the development of new ideas that have the potential to drive economic growth and improve society, the Embassy of Switzerland in the Philippines hosts the Swiss Innovation Prize Competition. This year’s awarding ceremony was held at the Makati Diamond Residences last Nov. 24.

H.E. Amb. Dr. Nicolas Brühl.jpg — H.E. Amb. Dr. Nicolas Brühl

The Swiss Innovation Prize Competition features three categories: Digitalization, Prosperity, and Sustainability. It provides a platform for young scholars, entrepreneurs, start-ups, and researchers to showcase innovative solutions and secure initial funding for new ideas that have potential to develop into meaningful projects. Participants also gain access to mentorship, internship, and other resources that help promote innovative ideas.

Sofia Santelices, Swiss Embassy’s communications officer.jpg — Sofia Santelices, Swiss Embassy’s communications officer

For this year, according to Kent Marjun Primor, the Swiss Embassy’s head of Economic and Trade Advisory and is the coordinator for the project, they received more than 150 high quality project proposals all over the Philippines. The Embassy Screening Committee meticulously evaluated the submitted proposals from Oct. 4 to 13, selecting the top 10 for each category based on impact, innovation, feasibility, and sustainability. Eighteen Swiss Cultural Fund (SCF) members (namely Buhler, Endress+Hauser, DDC Land, DKSH, Holcim Philippines, Impact Acoustic, Ivoclar Vivadent, Julius Baer, Nestle, Novartis, Novateur, Partners Group, Roche, Rolex, Sateco, SIKA, SGS, and Target Display) further refined the selection to the top three per category from Oct. 16 to 31 using the same criteria.

Dr. Nicolas Brühl, Joel Chong of Novartis, and Deputy Head Of MissionTim Fürst.jpg — resenciano Maramot of SGS, H.E. Amb. Dr. Nicolas Brühl of the Embassy of Switzerland, Joel Chong of Novartis, and Deputy Head Of Mission (DHOM) Tim Fürst

Céline Fürst with Kent Primor.jpg — Deputy Head Of Mission (DHOM) Céline Fürst with Head of Economic & Trade and Organizing Chair of the Project Kent Primor

After a careful two-level selection process, the finalists were invited to compete in the three-day final round in Manila from Nov. 22 to 24. During this time, they had the chance to visit Swiss companies and defend their project proposals before an esteemed panel of judges composed of CEOs/senior leaders of Swiss companies in the Philippines. These judges included Daniela San Agustin, president and managing director of Ivoclar Vivadent Philippines; Frank Keller, team head of Julius Baer SEA; Horia Adrian, president and CEO of Holcim Philippines; Dr. Diana Edralin, general manager of Roche Philippines; Joel Chong, country president of Novartis Healthcare Philippines; and Céline Fürst, deputy head of Mission of Embassy of Switzerland in the Philippines.

RECOGNIZING PARTNER COMPANIES:

Tim Fürst, Céline Fürst, Dr. Nicolas Brühl, Ali Martin-Sateco, Kent Primor.jpg — DHOM Tim Fürst, DHOM Céline Fürst, H.E. Amb. Dr. Nicolas Brühl, Ali Martin-Sateco, Project Organizing Chair Kent Primor

Dr. Nicolas Brühl, Christine Bellen of Holcim Philippines.jpg — DHOM Céline Fürst, H.E. Amb. Dr. Nicolas Brühl, Christine Bellen of Holcim Philippines, DHOM Tim Fürst, Project Organizing Chair Kent Primor

H.E. Amb. Dr. Nicolas Brühl, Dr. Diana Edralin of Roche.jpg — DHOM Céline Fürst, H.E. Amb. Dr. Nicolas Brühl, Dr. Diana Edralin of Roche, DHOM Tim Fürst, Project Organizing Chair Kent Primor

Dr. Nicolas Brühl, Frank Keller of Julius Baer.jpg — DHOM Céline Fürst, H.E. Amb. Dr. Nicolas Brühl, Frank Keller of Julius Baer, DHOM Tim Fürst, Economic and Project Organizing Chair Kent Primor

Dr. Nicolas Brühl, Atty. Denya Gracia Uy-Anastacio.jpg — DHOM Céline Fürst, H.E. Amb. Dr. Nicolas Brühl,, Atty. Denya Gracia Uy-Anastacio of Nestle Philippines, Kim Rances of Nestle Philippines, DHOM Tim Fürst, Project Organizing Chair Mr. Kent Primor

Ambassador Dr. Nicolas Brühl, Cresenciano Maramot of SGS.jpg — DHOM Céline Fürst, H.E. Amb. Dr. Nicolas Brühl, Cresenciano Maramot of SGS, DHOM Tim Fürst, Economic and Project Organizing Chair Kent Primor

Ambassador Dr. Nicolas Brühl, Markus Helber of DDC Land.jpg — DHOM Céline Fürst, H.E. Amb. Dr. Nicolas Brühl, Markus Helber of DDC Land, Inc., DHOM Tim Fürst, Project Organizing Chair Kent Primor

Ambassador Dr. Nicolas Brühl, Joel Chong of Novartis.jpg — H.E. Amb. Dr. Nicolas Brühl, Joel Chong of Novartis, DHOM Tim Fürst, Project Organizing Chair Kent Primor

THE WINNERS

Digitalization Category

Third Place: AGROTIS TechRice: Model Rice Farming for Agriculture 4.0 by Red, John Raven C. from the University of San Tomas

Frank Keller, Julius Baer, Nicolas Brühl, Jan Bautista, Raven Tabiongan, Kent Primor.jpg — Frank Keller of Julius Baer, H.E. Amb. Dr. Nicolas Brühl, Jan Floro S. Bautista, Raven Tabiongan - Digitalization Category Second Placer, Economic and Trade Advisor Kent Primor

Second Place: PROJECT 3D-CLUP: Three-Dimensional Visualization of City Mapping and Simulation of Geohazards using Spatial Research and Data Analytics by Bautista, Jan Floro S. and Tabiongan, Raven C. from Samar Island GIS and Data Analytics Center, Samar State University

Mr. Frank Keller, Brühl, Lourdes Isabella Corpuz, Gasal, and Jan Hanzhenri Endrina.jpg — Mr. Frank Keller of Julius Baer, H.E. Amb. Dr. Nicolas Brühl, First Place winner Lourdes Isabella Corpuz, Angel Louie Gasal, and Jan Hanzhenri Endrina, Economic and Trade Advisor Kent Primor

First Place: PAG-DARO: Pushing Agronomic Growth with Drone Aggregation for Regulative Observation by Corpuz, Lourdes Isabella, Endrina, Jan Hanzhenri, and Gasal, Angel Louie from University of San Carlos

Prosperity Category

Atty. Denya, Angelino Pimentel, Brühl, Laygo, Carlamae Nicole Ventura.jpg — Atty. Denya Gracia Uy-Anastacio of Nestlè, Angelino Pimentel, H.E. Amb. Dr. Nicolas Brühl, Alyssa Jean Laygo, Carlamae Nicole Ventura -Prosperity Category Third Placer, Economic and Trade Advisor Kent Primor

Third Place: EARNAV: Enhancing Accessibility and Resonance for Visually Impaired Individuals: Audio/Haptic-Based Navigation System by Laygo, Alyssa Jean M., Pimentel, Angelino A., and Ventura, Carlamae Nicole D. from Saint Mary's University

Denya Gracia Uy-Anastacio, Brühl, Toffee Perez and Ryan Bismark Padiernos.jpg — Atty. Denya Gracia Uy-Anastacio of Nestlè, H.E. Amb. Dr. Nicolas Brühl, Toffee Perez and Ryan Bismark Padiernos -Prosperity Category Second Placer, Economic and Trade Advisor Kent Primor

Second Place: Gamification and Software App Development of Board Prep for Board exam takers by Padiernos, Ryan Bismark C. and Perez, Toffee from Board Prep Solutions, Incorporated.

Atty. Denya Gracia Uy, Dr. Nicolas Brühl, Mark Carasca, Kent Primor.jpg — Atty. Denya Gracia Uy-Anastacio of Nestlè, H.E. Amb. Dr. Nicolas Brühl, First Place winner Mark Carasca, Economic and Trade Advisor Kent Primor

First Place: The PHageBank: Creation of the first industry-grade phage repository in the Philippines as a source of alternative therapeutics against antibiotic-resistant superbugs by Carascal, Mark B. from University of the Philippines Diliman/The Medical City

Sustainability Category

Joel Chong, Dr. Nicolas Brühl, Stanley Del Rosario, Elyza Camiguing.jpg — Joel Chong of Novartis, Ambassador Dr. Nicolas Brühl, Third place winner Stanley Del Rosario and Elyza Marielle Camiguing, and Economic and Trade Advisor Kent Primor

Third Place: Edible Cutleries with Biodegradable Packaging as an Alternative to Single-Used Plastic by Camiguing, Elyza Marielle R., Del Rosario, Stanley D., and Fernandez, John Paul E. from Technological Institute of the Philippines

Joel Chong, Dr. Nicolas Brühl, Leo Jaminola and Angelika Pizarro.jpg — Joel Chong of Novartis, Ambassador Dr. Nicolas Brühl, Second Place winner Leo Jaminola and Angelika Pizarro and Economic and Trade Advisor Kent Primor

Second Place: Leveraging Artificial Intelligence to Reduce Food Waste through Composting in the Philippines by Jaminola, Leo and Pizarro, Angelika from Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives Asia Pacific

Joel Chong, Dr. Nicolas Brühl, Mark Kennedy Bantugon.jpg — Joel Chong of Novartis, Ambassador Dr. Nicolas Brühl, Category Winner Mark Kennedy Bantugon, Economic and Trade Advisor Kent Primor

First Place: Pili Seal by Bantugon, Mark Kennedy E. from Pili Seal-Manila

#Embassy of Switzerland in the Philippines