The Department of Science and Technology- Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD), and the Technology Application and Promotion Institute (TAPI), in partnership with the DOST-XI held an orientation of its programs for Davao Region’s stakeholders last 25 November 2019 at the Malayan Colleges of Mindanao, Davao City.
The event was participated by Deans, Program Heads, and Research Office representative of Davao Region’s public and private Universities, including UP Mindanao, Ateneo de Davao University, University of Mindanao Davao, Digos, and Tagum Branches, University of Immaculate Conception, Cor Jesu College- Digos, and Saint Mary College-Tagum.
The University of the Philippines Mindanao-Technology Business Incubator, UP Growing and Developing Enterprise or UPGRADE InnoLab also presented its offered services and assistance to scalable startups in Davao Region during the event. UPGRADE InnoLab is one of the three university-based TBIs in Davao City that was funded by PCIEERD under the Higher Education Readiness for Innovation and Technopreneurship (HEIRIT) Program. The said initiative aims to aid early stage businesses and startups in the country to scale-up by providing training, mentorship, and other development programs.
Ms. Crishyl Bilbao, UPGRADE’s Project Development Officer II presented the six-month incubation program, technical support and mentorship, and funding opportunities that can be availed by technopreneurs at UP Mindanao. She also discussed the banner program of UP Mindanao in startup incubation that is Information and Computer Technology (ICT) for Sustainable Food Systems. UP Mindanao takes pride its expertise in providing reliable expertise in analyzing food chain of various products in the market, particularly those grown by farmers in Mindanao. Thus, it endeavors to expand more the opportunities in food system development by integrating technology application.
UPGRADE InnoLab specializes in incubating technology startups that addresses problems in the sectors of sustainable food system, food products, smart industries, green economy, and support to community solutions.
UMasenso Hub (UM-TBI) and Agilab (USeP-TBI) also provided an orientation about their incubation program and assistance to startups.
At the end of the activity, DOST-PCIEERD, TAPI, and DOST-Region XI were hopeful that with the support system established in the region through the TBIs, startups would be able to scale-up and help generate job opportunities for many Filipino families.
