Upgrade Innolab and USMART TBI Partners Up to Scale Circular Innovation in Region 12

DAVAO CITY, PHILIPPINES – During the recently concluded Cotabato Province Startup Week, Upgrade Innolab Inc. marked a milestone for the Circulab Acceleration Program through a series of engagements hosted by the University of Southern Mindanao – Applied Research and Technology (USMART) TBI on April 14-16, 2026.

The event included an information session to scout the region’s current generation of circular innovators, as well as the formal execution of a strategic partnership aimed at long-term regional impact.

Setting Up Cotabato’s Circular Pipeline

The Region 12 Information Session introduced local stakeholders to the framework of Circulab: Accelerating Circular Innovation from the Ground Up. As a key initiative under the EU-Philippines Green Economy Partnership, Circulab is designed to bridge the gap between early-stage ideation and investment readiness for ventures focused on regenerative and climate-smart business models.

In 2025, Region 12 (SOCCSKSARGEN) was the Philippines’ top producer of coffee, rubber, and asparagus, and was home to the nation’s tuna capital, contributing to a 15.2% surge in national agricultural export value.

The session highlighted how the circular economy can optimize the region’s value chains, reduce post-harvest losses, and create high-value products from industrial by-products of the region’s agricultural supply.

The MOU Signing for Primary Innovation Partners

The core of the engagement was the official signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Upgrade Innolab Inc., the University of Southern Mindanao (USM), and USMART TBI.

This agreement officially designates USM and USMART TBI as primary Innovation Partners for the Circulab program in Region 12.

The partnership was formalized by:

• Mr. Richard R. Day, President of Upgrade Innolab Inc./Project Lead, Circulab
• Mx. Val Anthony Cimafranca, Board Secretary of Upgrade Innolab and the Region 12 Portfolio Manager for the Circulab Acceleration Program.
• Jonal L. Pimentel, SUC President IV, University of Southern Mindanao
• Debbie Marie B. Verzosa, VP for Research, Development and Extension, University of Southern Mindanao
• Jalaloden B. Marohom, Project Lead, USM Technology Business Incubator

As the Portfolio Manager for the region, Mx. Cimafranca will oversee the integration of Circulab’s technical curriculum with USMART TBI’s local expertise.

Green Transition and Cotabato’s Provincial Ecosystem

The partnership aligns with a broader mandate to foster an inclusive green transition. By leveraging USMART TBI’s deep roots in the Cotabato provincial ecosystem, the collaboration aims to:

• Identify 10 standout startups to lead Mindanao’s transition toward a circular economy.
• Ensure the program’s GEDSI (Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion) objectives are met by prioritizing participation from women, youth, and indigenous communities.
• Creating 1,000 green jobs through sustainable business practices.

With the MOU in effect, both innovation parties are poised to begin the selection and mentorship phases of the Circulab program.

Funded by a P3.67 billion (€60 million) grant from the European Union in the Philippines, the EU-PH Green Economy Partnership is a priority programme under the EU’s Global Gateway initiative and is led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). It aims to link European and Filipino partners from the private sector and local governments to accelerate the country’s transition to a greener economy while sustaining economic growth.

This initiative is done under the EU-PH Green Economy Partnership: Green Business, Infrastructure, and Finance implemented by Expertise France, co-led by the DTI Philippines, and co-implemented with the GGGI Philippines.