CEBU CITY – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-Region VII continues to partner and collaborate with various tech and non-government organizations (NGO) for the development of smart, sustainable communities and Startups in Central Visayas.
“We continue to collaborate and partners with various tech groups and NGOs to advance DOST7’s thrust of delivering science, technology, and innovation solutions for local needs to build and develop a startup ecosystem in Cebu and across Central Visayas and create smart, sustainable and resilient communities in the region,” Dr. Tristan Abando, DOST7-OIC Regional Director said in an interview with media.
On August 27, DOST-7 and Mata Technologies
Inc., a Cebu-based startup supported by the DOST-Philippine Council for
Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development
(DOST-PCIEERD) met and discussed a closer collaboration under DOST’s Smart and
Sustainable Communities Program (SSCP).
Dr. Abando and Mata Tech CEO Erika Dell Sacho explored programs focusing on the integration of immersive technologies to support resilient and future-ready communities. Both sides highlighted promising applications of Mata Tech’s capabilities in Smart Tourism to promote local destinations and heritage through interactive experiences.
An immersive mapping for preparedness and response for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM); digital and interactive learning tools for schools and communities; and innovative platforms to support planning, governance, and service delivery for smart community solutions.
Meanwhile, on the same date, August 27, DOST-7 and the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI) has strengthened its partnership to expand collaboration in advancing sustainable, empowered, and disaster-resilient communities in Cebu Province.
The collaboration is anchored on three key areas-- Smart and Sustainable Communities Program (SSCP); the Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST) Program; and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM).
Both institutions emphasized their aligned mission of empowering communities by combining RAFI’s strengths in community engagement with DOST’s mandate to provide science, technology, and innovation solutions.
DOST7 and StellarPH for Startups support
On August 19, DOST-7 and StellarPH, a startup enabler that supports entrepreneurs and innovators, signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to support the development of Startups in Cebu and nearby areas under the “Accelerator Program by StellarPH – Empowering Cebu Startups.”
The partnership calls for the development of 10 early-stage startups in Cebu City and nearby areas to undergo a three-phase process that include the validation of their business ideas; develop a minimum viable product (MVP); and prepare to meet potential investors.
StellarPH Co-Founder, Renato Rex Xavier Marzan said, the program provides hands-on training, one-on-one mentoring, and workshops on market research, product development, and pitching.
Marzan bared that the partnership also supports two initiatives designed to strengthen the local startup community including the Safe Space Pitch Events--regular pitch sessions with the DOST-Cebu Innovation Hub where students can present their ideas, receive mentor feedback, and connect with the innovation ecosystem.
The 2nd initiative is the Startup Soft Landing Bootcamp – a
bi-annual training camp that immerses aspiring entrepreneurs in the Region VII
startup ecosystem, linking them with mentors, resources, and government support,
Marzan added.
Dr. Abando said that the partnership between StellarPH aims to build a startup ecosystem in Cebu and across Region VII by nurturing entrepreneurs, promoting collaboration among schools, businesses, and government, and creating opportunities for innovation and economic growth. (Photos: DOST7/Dayien Lizada)
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