BATANGAS, April 23 – Batangas State University’s Center for Technopreneurship and Innovation (BatStateU CTI) wins the Best Incubator Infrastructure Award in the recently concluded PH Startup Incubator Awards, hosted by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and QBO Innovation Hub.
The Best Incubator Infrastructure Award is given to the Technology Business Incubator (TBI) with the best facilities and resources, including the office space and research and development (R&D) facilities that help start-ups develop and test their product prototypes and services. This is one of the five awards included in the ‘Operational Excellence Awards’, given to the TBIs which excelled in their organizational structure, provided facilities, and in the attainment of their targets.
The PH Startup Incubator Awards also served as the culminating activity of TBI 4.0 program, a two-year initiative funded by the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST – PCIEERD) and led by the QBO Innovation Hub, that aims to elevate the capacity and services of the DOST supported TBIs in the Philippines by developing world-class TBIs and incubator managers, and increase the number of quality tech start-ups in the country as its end goal.
Twelve (12) start-up TBIs hailing from the country’s leading universities participated in the TBI 4.0 program, where they develop different incubation programs, capacity development and co-incubation arrangements. The event also recognized these TBIs who helped excite the growth of the start-up economy and local ecosystems, as well as encouraging new start-ups to grow in the Philippines.
The following TBIs were named as the winners during the awarding ceremony after showing exemplary performance in their fields of expertise and drive in levelling up their fulfillment as technology business incubators.
- Best Incubator Infrastructure – Center for Technopreneurship and Innovation (CTI) – Batangas State University
- Best Incubator Community Program – SIBOL Labs – University of the Philippines-Los Baños
- Best Incubator Startup Program – AIM-Dado Banatao Incubator – Asian Institute of Management
- Best Incubator Governance & Operations – UPSCALE Innovation Hub – University of the Philippines-Diliman
- Best Incubator Growth & Sustainability – Animo Labs – De La Salle University
- Extra Mile Incubator – Animo Labs – De La Salle University
- Rising Star Incubator – iDEYA- MSU Iligan Institute of Technology
- People’s Choice for Best Incubator Team – iDEYA – MSU Iligan Institute of Technology
- Grand Champion – UPSCALE Innovation Hub – University of the Philippines-Diliman
DOST Secretary Fortunato Dela Pena in his speech, stressed the importance of investing to human capital, their innovative ideas, and their significant role to nation building. “Investment in human capital, expanding business incubation and acceleration efforts, [and] adoption of policies will lead to a better ecosystem for our start-ups and innovation,” he shared.
QBO President Mr. Rene “Butch” Meily, in his message highlighted the role of the TBI 4.0 program on how it upgraded the Philippine start-up ecosystem, and how it can spark the potential of creating own start-ups in the Philippines. “Our hope is for the program to spread the idea of entrepreneurship all over the country,” he stressed.
DOST PCIEERD Executive Director Dr. Enrico Paringit focused on the milestones and journey of the TBIs during the TBI 4.0 program. He also shared the DOST PCIEERD’s funding to the start up incubators on partner colleges and universities, to champion innovation and technopreneurship for the socio-economic development of the country.
The BatStateU CTI was also announced as finalist for the Best Incubator Governance and Operations award and People’s Choice for Best Incubator Team.
In a Facebook post, the BatStateU CTI expressed their warmest gratitude the DOST-PCIEERD, QBO Innovation Hub, and the BatStateU Administrators for their love, support and encouragement throughout the program. They also congratulated all the 11 other TBIs as they successfully graduated from the TBI 4.0 Program. “Everything we do is always anchored to our philosophy, ‘Para sa Bayan,’” they closed.
