Fifteen universities and colleges in the Philippines have been approved to finally operate their respective technology business incubators.
The Department of Science and Technology Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with 15 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) that will receive the funding to establish their own TBIs under the 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!) program.
These are Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU), Nueva Ecija University of Science & Technology (NEUST), Bataan Peninsula State University (BPSU), De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB), Isabela State University (ISU), Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU), University of the Philippines Baguio (UP Baguio), Tarlac State University (TSU) in Luzon, Bohol Island State University (BISU) in Visayas, and Mindanao State University – General Santos (MSU-GenSan), Ateneo de Zamboanga University (ADZU), Philippine Women’s College of Davao (PWC), Surigao del Norte State University (SNSU), Sultan Kudarat State University (SKSU), University of Immaculate Conception (UIC) in Mindanao.
DOST-PCIEERD executive director Dr. Enrico C. Paringit said they will be releasing a total of Php 220 million for the TBIs to operate for two years.
Russel Pili, DOST-PCIEERD Research Information and Technology Transfer Division (RITTD) chief science research specialist, emphasized the important role of the TBI not only in making an impact on the startups and the community they serve.
“With the TBIs being an engine of growth for innovation in other parts of the world, we hope that our universities here will take advantage of this opportunity to be the reason for our country to provide jobs to our people, attract investments to our local businesses, earn revenues so our communities can collectively progress, and drive economic growth for our country,” she said.
“But most importantly, our first responsibility is to our startups, our existing and future entrepreneurs, our homegrown heroes, our role is to make a difference in their lives,” she added.
DOST-PCIEERD allotted a total of P220 million in grant funding that the new TBIs can utilize in their operations for two years.
The 15 universities are among the 27 schools undergoing DOST-PCIEERD’s HIHEIRIT PA MORE! Program, a structured and immersive training program with one (1) year handholding support to mentor incubator’s project management teams in solving operational concerns during their implementation and establishment of a supportive startup ecosystem within their university and region.
DOST-PCIEERD executive director Dr. Enrico C. Paringit said the universities that were not approved of the funding at the moment will continue their capability and capacity-building activities and will be re-evaluated by February 2023.
All the universities also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the continuation of the 2-year program. The second year of implementation includes handholding of both the newly-formed and prospective TBIs.
University of the Philippines Mindanao (UP Mindanao) chancellor Dr. Lyre Anni E. Murao also joined the MOU signing as the University of the Philippines Growing and Developing Enterprises (UPGRADE), the technology business incubator of the University continues to spearhead the implementation of the program’s second run.
“I would like to congratulate and officially welcome the 27 HEIs to the DOST TBI Network. This will mark the beginning of your journey and I would say it will not be easy but it will be worth it,” Paringit said.
“This would not be made possible without the help and support of our partners from the DICT (Department of Information and Communications Technology), DTI (Department of Trade and Industry), QBO Innovation Hub, and UPGRADE TBI,” he added.
The signing of MOA and MOU is the highlight of the 6th TBI Summit on November 16, 2022 at the Blue Leaf Events Pavilion, Taguig City which is part of this year’s Philippine Startup Week activities.
