UC Innovation and Nurturing Space
(Technology and Business Incubator)
Background
The Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD) and the University of the Philippines, through the National Engineering Center, launched the Higher Education Institution Readiness for Innovation and Technopreneurship (HeIRIT) Program, a 12-month preparatory program for starting technology business incubators (TBIs).
The HeIRIT Program was designed in order to help universities meet the requirements of the Council’s TBI funding and train their managers to run their own DOST-affiliated TBIs to cater the growing demand for early stage entrepreneurial support particularly in the regions. The kick-off activity took place on April 16-18, 2018 at the UP National Engineering Center was participated by different university TBI representatives. 20 out of the 45 universities that applied around the country were successfully selected by the Council’s Panel of Experts to undergo the said program. University of the Cordilleras is among those granted to establish a TBI.
On May 3, 2019, University of the Cordilleras Innovation And Nurturing Space (UCIANS) had its soft launching at the University of the Cordilleras Legarda Campus. DOST Secretary Fortunato T. De La Peña together with other DOST national and regional officials graced the occasion. UC officials were led by Mr. Jesus Benjamin D. Salvosa, the chairman of the board of trustees and Mr. Ray Dean D. Salvosa, University president.
UCIANS TBI is located at the University of the Cordilleras – Legarda Campus. The space includes (1) event area, (1) meeting/ideation space, and (1) workstation with (6) computer terminals. Currently these spaces are already in place and working as renovations for the additional conference room and workstation are already complete.
As regards furniture, the center is fully furnished with amenities and equipment for it to operate. Furthermore, the network infrastructure of the center is up and running.
Currently, the center has 4 active startup incubatee’s from both Batch 1 and 2 that are undergoing the incubation program, 7 startup graduates from both Batch 1 and Batch 2, and 12 startup incubatees that are currently undergoing the pre-incubation program and set to onboard the main incubation program by June 2021. We plan to help our University create and implement new innovative ideas that generate value for public use.
The goal of the DOST is to establish 1000 startups in the next five years through replication of startup communities in the regions. The UCIANS plan to enable our faculty and students to contribute as much as possible to attain this goal.
About
The UCIANS is a Technology Business Incubator funded by the DOST PCIEERD HEIRIT Program to provide business and technology transfer opportunities among the academe and the community to aid in the development of the startup ecosystem of the Philippines. With its banner program focusing on the field of Criminal Justice including Public Safety and Security as well as Forensic Science, one the UCIANS TBI's main verticals is to bridge the technological gap to advance the field of Criminal Justice through innovative ideas and solutions.
Services Offered
Design Thinking – This program is a process of ideation that is shared to various colleges within the University of the Cordilleras as well as the TBI’s startup incubatees. The process consists of five steps: Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test respectively. The optimal time for this program is 2-3 days but can be ran within half a day.
Startup Challenges and Pitching Competition – The UCIANS TBI also hosts Startup Competitions and Pitching Challenges to encourage students and professionals in every field to seek ideas that can innovate their specific fields. In addition, the UCIANS TBI also serves as a community partner to other startup enablers and organizations that conduct competitions and challenges.
Incubation Program – The main services that the UCIANS TBI offers is the Incubation Program. Designed to help Idea Stage Startups develop their ideas, the first version of the program consisted of 5 Pillars whereas the current program now consists of 6 Pillars, the pillars are in place to equip startup incubatees with the necessary skills and knowledge they’ll be needing to grow their startup ideas to a higher maturity level.
Technopreneurship Training – The UC Innovation and Nurturing Space team visits various classes within the University of the Cordilleras to conduct technopreneurship training which is basically a crash course of the abovementioned programs (Design Thinking, Ideation, Business Model Canvas, and Pitching). But if a professor or instructor would want to focus on a certain topic for the students, we set our eyes on that specific topic. Also in its planning stages are programs that help safeguard incubatees innovations.
Technopreneurship Training – The UC Innovation and Nurturing Space team visits various classes within the University of the Cordilleras to conduct technopreneurship training which is basically a crash course of the abovementioned programs (Design Thinking, Ideation, Business Model Canvas, and Pitching). But if a professor or instructor would want to focus on a certain topic for the students, we set our eyes on that specific topic. Also in its planning stages are programs that help safeguard incubatees innovations.
Technopreneurship
As part of the UCIANS TBI’s University Caravan, Technopreneurship, a course co-created by the UCIANS TBI to engage students in the field of tech and entrepreneurship is now offered across all programs of the University of the Cordilleras.
During the period of January 16, 2021 to April 15, 2021, the UCIANS TBI has conducted 42 technopreneurship sessions across various colleges of the university including the College of Information Technology and Computer Science (7 sessions), the College of Business Administration (20 sessions), the College of Engineering and Architecture (10 sessions), the College of Hospitality and Tourism Management (4 sessions), and the Senior Highschool (1 session) attaining approximately 1,100 in student reach for this period.
Community Building
Community Building is essential to developing the local startup ecosystem as well as the startup ecosystem of the Philippines as a whole. In line with this, the UCIANS TBI team grabs every opportunity to connect with startup enablers and stakeholders in Baguio City.
Over the course of the fourth quarter of the UCIANS TBI’s second year of implementation, the team has managed to connect and benchmark with various individuals and groups in the startup ecosystem of the Baguio community.
BAG-Haven is an event organized by TBIs in Benguet to raise awareness on startup ecosystem development.
(November 23, 2019)
GIS Innolab Opening and MOA Signing with Baguio City Hall - The Geographic Information System Innovation Laboratory (GIS InnoLab) of the University of the Cordilleras (UC) was inaugurated followed by a MOA signing between UC and the City of Baguio in the use of the GIS.
(December 5, 2019)
Benchmarking with IOL – The CEO of IOL Inc., Kevin Gayao, visited the UC Innovation and Nurturing Space to give his tips on startup development and developing the startup ecosystem.
(December 21, 2019)
INFI.I Visit – The South Korean Software Development Company paid a visit to the UC Innovation and Nurturing Space to benchmark current startups and technologies.
(January 16, 2020)
INFI.I MOA Signing A Memorandum of Agreement was signed between the University of the Cordilleras, UCIANS-TBI, and INFI.I for a partnership through a mentorship program.
(January 23, 2020)
QBO Innovation Hub Training – Training on Ecosystem Development was conducted for the UCIANS TBI Team, and UC Faculty and Staff members by the QBO Innovation Hub to further startup development in Baguio City and the Nation.
(February 25-27, 2020)
Visit to IOL Inc. for Benchmarking
Enabler/s: Kevin Philip D. Gayao, IOL Inc.
(February 10, 2021)
Benchmarking and Connecting
Enabler/s: Mr. Reymart Canuel, Van Orpilla, GDG Baguio
(February 13, 2021)
Sharing of activities and initiatives
Enabler/s: Katherine Faith Aguilar, DICT – Luzon Cluster 1
(February 18, 2021)
MOU Signing with IOL Inc.
Enabler/s: Kevin Philip D. Gayao, IOL Inc.
(February 24, 2021)
Benchmarking and exploratory meeting with VIVITA Ph
Enabler/s: Gabe Mercado, Kevin Philip D. Gayao, VIVITA PH
(March 4, 2021)
Visit from Leon Mendigorin for TBI Philippines website
Enabler/s: Leon Menigorin, DOST PCIEERD
(March 31, 2021)
Event Conducted and Participated In
Tech Talk with Tech 101 students of Criminal Justice Education and Forensic Science to spread awareness on the TBI and technopreneurship.
(October 19, 2019)
Pitching with students of the College of Information Technology and Computer Science.
(October 25, 2019)
An Introduction to: Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning was given to students of Criminal Justice and Forensic Science.
(October 26, 2019)
Impact Hackathon held at the UC Theater.
(October 30, 2019)
Regional Research, Development and Innovation Summit
Dr. Ariel Nimo B. Pumecha, the TBI Manger talked about the University of the Cordilleras Innovation and Nurturing Space.
(November 8, 2019)
Philippine Startup Week TBI Summit
Dr. Ariel Nimo B. Pumecha and Ethan Niguel Salvador representing the University of the Cordilleras Innovation and Nurturing Space at Crowne Plaza, Ortigas.
(November 20, 2019)
Design Thinking Seminar and Workshop (University Caravan)
Invited by Engr. Nathaniel Lubrica, the TBI Team and in collaboration with the College of Engineering and Architecture, the seminar and workshop was to aid participants’ research proposals with the theme “Translating Multi-Disciplinary Research outputs in Urban Mobility to reality”.
(December 3, 2019)
Design Thinking Seminar and Workshop (University Caravan)
The activity, coordinated and delivered by the TBI Team, was geared toward raising awareness on startup developemtn, technopreneurship, and the design thinking process for students of the Senior High School Innovation Sections.
(December 19, 2019)
A Talk on Design Thinking (University Caravan)
Delivered by Dr. Ariel Nimo B. Pumech, the talk was aimed for Criminal Justice Graduate School Students, the talk was conducted in hopes for the students to integrate the process in their future research endeavors.
(January 6, 2020)
Universidad De Manila Visit (University Caravan)
The UC TBI team was delighted to have the Universidad De Manila visit and benchmark as the TBI team gave an orientation on startups, technopreneurship, and technologies available.
(January 16, 2020)
Technopreneurship for Criminal Justice Students (University Caravan)
The UCIANS-TBI conducted a talk on technopreneurship and startup development for criminal justice students.
(February 11, 2020)
Video Conference with WIKA and CIVIKA
The UCIANS-TBI along with CIVIKA Global Labs attended a video conference with WIKA – a Singapore-based startup company geared toward creating technology for the deaf.
(February 13, 2020)
IISLA Ventures Open Forum
IISLA Ventures, a Makati-based company on commercialization conducted an open forum for various startups in Baguio City.
(January 20, 2020)
Design Thinking Seminar and Workshop (University Caravan)
A Design Thinking Seminar and Workshop was conducted for students of Senior High School ICT sections to further improve their ability in research and innovation endeavors.
(March 2, 2020)