Dated April 30, 2020, via Zoom and Facebook Live- The University of the Philippines Mindanao through the UP Mindanao Growing and Developing Enterprises (UPGRADE) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Trade and Industry Region XI and the Department of Information and Communications Technology Mindanao Cluster III to improve the offering of its 6-month incubation program dubbed as Innovative Startup Knowledge Optimizer Program 2.0.
ISKO program is the flagship program of UPGRADE that offers tailored mentoring, corporate training, prototyping and testing assistance, legal consultancy, access to free coworking space, and linkages with investors network for early-stage startups.
The partnership also executes Davao Region’s action plan to carry out RA 1137 otherwise known as the Innovative Startup Act, a law that strengthens, promotes, and develops an innovative and entrepreneurial ecosystem and culture in the Philippines.
“The partnership program is indeed timely and in line with DTI’s efforts to build an innovation culture in the region and strengthen the entrepreneurship ecosystem through the Regional Inclusive Innovation Center.”
– Maria Belenda Q. Ambi, Region Director of DTI XI
“It is very important that we get these agencies (DICT M3, DTI XI, DOST XI) to align and work together to create harmonized and synced programs for the startup industry, and it is even imperative to link the academe in this cycle to harness the brilliant ideas of its students and establish business potentials out of it.”
– Dr. Larry N. Digal, Chancellor of UP Mindanao
DICT Mindanao Cluster III affirms its commitment to support UPGRADE’s ISKO Program, particularly on mentorship, training, and workshops for its incubatees from its pool of experts to help the startups to scale up.
Alimbzar Asum, Regional Director of DICT Mindanao Cluster III
