LUCBAN, QUEZON – A technology and business unit of the Southern Luzon State University (SLSU) seeks to tap and sustain science-based technology and innovation into business entrepreneurship and livelihood opportunities to uplift the lives of people of the communities in the whole province of Quezon and in Calabarzon region as it kicked off the celebration of Science and Technology Innovation Week (STW) on Tuesday here.
The Technology Business Incubator (TBI), an attached mentorship program of SLSU, seeks to establish partnership with technology innovators and start-up business investors in “turning ideas into scalable enterprises” during the ICOwentuhan media forum and press conference spearheaded by Cecilia Maloles of the Phil. Information Agency-Quezon and April Arianne De Leon of the Information and Communication Office (ICO) of the SLSU.
Dr. Frederick Villa, SLSU President, said in his brief speech before the start of the media event, that the SLSU, a state university with 9 satellite campuses and more than 18,000 students in Quezon province, is trying to strengthen the connection among the academe, the government, media and the community to improve its academic ranking from SUC-Level 3 to Level 4 through their research innovation programs that affect the lives of the community.
Villa said the SLSU accomplishments, thru the support of the private local print and broadcast media practitioners, became more meaningful when they are communicated effectively and made accessible to the target beneficiaries of the community.
Jennifer Edytha Lagrazon, Center Chief and Manager of SLSU-TBI, said they try to reach out to product inventors, to register, protect and market their products and find investors for successful commercialization.
The SLSU-TBI with budget allocation of P2 million a year taps up to 200 faculty members with various expertise to help the invention products of “incubatees” and provide P80,000 incentive for successful technology that has reached the commercial market.
Giehway Liwanag, Science Research Specialist of SLSU-TBI, helped Lagrazon in explaining the functions and processes of the TBI mandate and programs to connect product inventors to various small, micro and medium business enterprises and their effort to tap national and local government agencies for program funding and implementations.
Lagrazon said they also coordinate and communicate with Gov. Helen Tan in various business forums and engagements to reach out in the implementation of their projects with other sectors and stakeholders of the community.
Sitting beside Lagrazon and Liwanag at the presscon was Nona Nagares, former faculty member of SLSU, a food technologist and owner of Nnovate Food Product, who has been successful in launching and marketing innovative Mushroom-based products such as Mushroom Oatmeal Cookies and Mushroom Garlic Chili Sauce manufactured in Brgy. Isabang, Tayabas City assisted by SLSU-TBI.
The SLSU-STW program activities included 17 booth exhibitors from various SLSU campuses and other external exhibitors at the university covered court that showcased innovative science and tech-based agri-fishery products, organic agriculture production, displays of smart gadgets, smart home and classroom utilization systems, actual human body parts from SLSU College of Medicine Laboratory, the digitalization of the municipal gallery and museum of Lucban, among others.
Villa cut the ceremonial ribbon to the opening of exhibit booths together with special guest during the event, Dr. Guillermo Mendoza, associate Professor Emeritus of University of Illinois Urbana and a Balik Scientist of DOST-PCAARRD who was also the keynote speaker, and other guests.
The event also features the launching of Center for Social Innovation and Public Policy, Creative Works Management Unit, ceremonial signing of memorandum of agreement with WADHWANI Foundation and Dept. of Trade and Industry; ceremonial signing of Technology Licensing Agreement with Amarich Marketing International for Nipa Sweeteners, and awarding of Bureau of Plant Industry’s Certificate of Accreditation to SLSU Tissue Culture Laboratory.
On Day 2 and Day 3 of the event, will be the holding of Research Congress among various stakeholders, a SULEO Technology Pitching Competition, WEN Ignite Trainers Training Program on Faculty Capacity Building for Entrepreneurship Education and Innovation; and Ceremonial Signing of MOA for co-Incubation with Cavite State University and Vin-Vie Integrated Farms.