Over forty Universities and Colleges in the Philippines proposed to establish a Technology Business Incubator (TBI) on campus.
The HEI Readiness for Innovation and Technopreneurship (HEIRIT) Preparatory Program for Starting TBIs of the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) aims to conduct a structured, needs-responsive, and immersive training program to guide TBI managers and their teams to plan, execute, and sustain TBI operations.
The program entitled Handholding Starting Incubators from HEIs for Readiness towards Innovation and Technopreneurship Preparatory and Skills Acceleration for TBI Managers Optimizing Regional Startup Ecosystem (HIHEIRIT PA MORE!), is a program designed to provide a one (1) year handholding support in establishing a TBI on campus. Training partners will mentor the incubator’s project management teams in solving operational concerns during their implementation and establishment of a supportive startup ecosystem within their university and in the region.
Out of forty (40) HEIs selected to participate in the program, only twenty-seven (27) were approved to join Track 1. These TBI teams will get a chance to receive funding from PCIEERD.
The HIHEIRIT team were split into three (3) groups. Each group dedicated two full weeks to visit select HEIs nationwide. They conducted the important first step to assess the readiness level of the designated TBI teams. The visits started last April 24, 2022.
Led by UP Growing and Developing Enterprises (UPGRADE) TBI in collaboration with UPSCALE Innovation Hub and in partnership with E3Hubs, DLSU Animo Labs and IISLA Ventures, the HEI TBI Assessment Visit was completed successfully with productive outcomes.
