30/06/2025
๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐: Upholding its support and participation, the DOST VIII attended the NCRโs Innovation and Technology Transfer Summit 2025 held at Green Sun Hotel, Makati City last June 23-24, 2025. The 2-day Summit was indeed a remarkable event marked by the presence of the DOST Secretary Dr. Renato U. Solidum Jr. together with the DOST Undersecretary for Regional Operations Engr. Sancho A. Maborrang. Special support also came from various DOST key officials such as Dr. Napoleon K. Juanillo Jr, the Assistant Secretary for Technology Transfer, Communication and Commercialization, Engr. Maria Teresa B. de Guzman, the Assistant Secretary for Countryside Development and Dr. Melvin B. Carlos, the Deputy Executive Director of PCCAARD.
The program kicked started a warm welcome message delivered by the DOST NCR Regional Director and TECHGROW Project Leader Engr. Romelen T. Tresvalles. She emphasized the role of DOST as the backbone of commercialization bridging research and development to truly create an impact in the communities it serves.
The event made it more meaningful when DOST Secretary Solidum on his keynote message emphasized the mission of DOST as the leading provider and enabler of science and technology-based solutions to boost the economic growth and development of the country. He also stressed out the importance of promoting a culture of innovation that will create an intangible change empowered by every technological advancement with a purpose of significantly improving the lives of every Filipino. Likewise, Assistant Secretary Juanillo shared the DOST Propel Programs and services it offers relating to commercialization practices where innovation meets commerce as its ultimate goal. Also, a ceremonial Letter of Intent (LOI) signing was a milestone of success for DOST-NCR that gathered pioneering members from various sectors of the government for the launching of PCAARRD R&D consortium.
On the other hand, relevant stakeholders particularly Engr. Maria Teresa B. De Guzman, Dir. Shiela Gail Satura-Quingco and Dr. Renato A. Villegas showed support in the pursuit of bringing together industry enablers into a collaborative platform believing that true development is shared progress. As significant as it is, Undersecretary Engr. Maborrang carried out his message of support reinforcing that innovation only becomes truly impactful when it creates opportunities that transforms an idea into a livelihood generating solutions that impacts the countryโs economic growth. Followed which was a Grand Opening of Exhibits graced by DOST Secretary Solidum, Undersecretary Maborrang, Assistant Secretary de Guzman, and Assistant Secretary Juanillo which made the exhibit a notable engagement.
On the afternoon session, the sectoral councils of DOST such as the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD), the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD) and the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) merged their capacity to educate the public with their intent to provide funding opportunities on specific areas such as in agriculture, natural resources, energy, health and emerging industries with the best of their programs and services to offer. Meanwhile, Dr. Luis G. Sison, the Director of Technology Transfer and Business Development Office (TTBDO) of UP System imparted an intensive discussion on the innovators journey entitled โfrom Ideation, Research and Development to Commercializationโ. This holistic approach gave a better understanding that collaboration is the key to success in the world of business and entrepreneurship.
Also, one of the key activities was called the โFireside Chatโ wherein participation of various experts was marked extraordinary featuring the success stories of Spinoff and Licensing in world of commercialization. The panelist was composed by Dr. Francis Aldrine A. Uy, the Founder & CEO of USHER Technologies, Inc., Ms. Ma. Girlie M. Millo, the Supervising Science Research Specialist of DOST MIRDC and Atty. Marc Fabian Castrodes, the President of Aretei Foods Corporation. The โFireside Chatโ segment was a platform made available to ignite visions and ideas from the enablers point of view in consistently empowering the research and development ecosystem with the practical wisdom and knowledge they intended to expound. In addition, a moment of recognition for key partners, licensors and TECHGROW Project implementors has concluded a productive Day 1 Summit.
On its Day 2, the program started with an interactive โTechTalkโ that convened various experts from different sectors with the expertise in intellectual property, government, industries, and academe. The โTechTalkโ was composed by the panelists from IPOPHIL represented by Atty. Martina Marlin S. Marte, Dir. Noel A. Catibog from Technology Transfer and Promotion Division, Ms. Yolanda R. Dela Cruz Regional Governor of PCCI-NCR and Ms. Margarita N. Caparas of UP Diliman UPSCALE. The discussion focused on the intellectual property rights, protection and policies to educate young minds in protecting their innovation as assets in every licensing negotiation.
One of the interesting part of the Summit was a โReverse Pitchingโ performed by the local government particularly LGU Pasig and the business industries namely Mega Prime Foods, Inc. represented by Ms. Maria Bernadette Canalda, the R&D Senior Manager, from Nestle Philippines, Inc. represented by Ms. Meg Anne Santos, the Head of Sustainability, Engr. Naason G. Velasco, the Lead for New Systems and Technologies of Maynilad Water Services, Inc. pitched their challenges and problems encountered in terms of transportation system, risk reduction management, food and beverage mandates and consumer services. On the afternoon session, another technology pitching entitled โTeknolokalโ was pitched by diverse universities presenting their impactful developed technologies for commercialization. These technologies are the โTrafficEZโ from University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines, โSessy Eboatโ from Mapรบa University, โLungsod Solutionsโ from University of the Philippines Diliman, โC-Trikeโ from Cagayan State University, โPropre Boostโ from Central Luzon State University and โHolomacโ from USHER Technologies, Inc. All these technologies were products of the innovative mindset of researchers and entrepreneurs featuring its purpose and impact to ensure its efficiency and value to its target markets. From this perspective driven by innovation and shared visions, researchers have believed that we will be able to build a smarter future in generations to come. The day 2 concluded a turnover ceremony accepted by DOST Region III Assistant Regional Director for Technical Operations Mr. Romeolito G. Tacbian as the next host of the 2026 Innovation and Technology Transfer Summit.
On its day 3, DOST NCR conducted an Assessment Meeting together with its 15 DOST Regional offices to continually capacitate the Regional FOB Secretariat in the continuous implementation of the TECHGROW Project. Various enablers from different industries were marked present namely Dir. Noel A. Catibog from Technology Transfer and Promotion Division of DOST PCAARRD, Atty. Rowanie A. Nakan, IP and Legal FOB Expert from Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia, Mr. Dindo O. Umali, the Intellectual Property Rights Specialist III, Atty. Martina Marlin S. Marte Attorney III and Ms. Ma. Leidy Caballes-Gatuz, the Intellectual Property Rights Specialist III of IPOPHL and Engr. Melvin P. Jusi, the Focal for Fairness Opinion Assessment of OUSECRO. The morning segment became a learning session at the same time a General Assembly Meeting of DOST Regional Offices Project Team that significantly shared along valuable insights with the operational functions of the existing navigators and enablers in the aspect of technology transfer and commercialization.
The 3-day activity was a product of a successful conduct of the DOST NCR and its Regional officesโ objectives and targets in sustaining a more vibrant economy with the aim of translating outputs into impact. This incredible event signifies DOSTโs mission and vision as the lead enabler and provider of science driven solutions towards sustaining a more progressive and innovative ecosystem.
