Silliman, 1st private institution in NIR to receive Fab Lab grant from DTI

DUMAGUETE CITY – Silliman University (SU) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-NegOr signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the turnover and unveiling of the SINERGY Fabrication Laboratory (Fab Lab), a shared service facility under the DTI program, on November 6 at the Dr. Mariano and Lina Lao Activity Center.

According to Dr. Mae Brigitt Bernadel Villordon, SU interim assistant vice president for Academic Affairs and concurrent dean of the College of Arts and Sciences that Silliman University is the first private institution in Negros Island Region (NIR) to receive a Fab Lab grant from DTI.

“Together with DTI, we foster an enabling environment for private sector development, strengthening the institutional capacity of our local government units to support entrepreneurship, and that the partnership between DTI and Silliman University reflects a shared commitment,” Villordon said in her welcome address.

Villordon noted the potential contribution of the facility.  She said that through the SINERGY Lab, she hopes that there are new ideas to emerge, collaborative ventures to take form, and transformative projects that serve as a catalyst for sustainable economic development both in the school setting and in the communities.

“By integrating the Fab Lab into the university’s curriculum and community outreach programs, it serves as a hub for creative problem-solving and entrepreneurial growth in the region,” SINERGY TBI and Fab Lab manager, Asst; Prof. Janice Antoniette Forster said at the dedication service and blessing ceremony event.

Foster bared that the SINERGY Fab Lab is equipped with up-to-date equipment including 3D printers, laser printer and engraver, printed circuit board (PCB) maker, vacuum forming machine, 3D desktop scanner, embroidery machine, and print and cut machine.

The new facility is envisioned to be a dynamic innovation hub where creativity, collaboration, and entrepreneurship unite to transform ideas into impactful realities thereby creating opportunities that uplift lives and drive societal advancement,” she added.

The SINERGY Fab Lab at Silliman University

Nimfa Virtucio, DTI-NegOr Provincial Director
said, the SSF-Fab Lab is designed to support micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in developing prototypes while fostering innovation among students and local entrepreneurs.

“It is a game-changing space for innovation in Dumaguete—the Sinergy FabLab at Silliman University because it is equipped with advanced 3D printing, embroidery, PCB prototyping, vinyl printing, and vacuum forming machines.  This state-of-the-art facility empowers makers, students, MSMEs, and designers to transform ideas into reality, whether it’s creating new product prototypes, experimenting with unique packaging, or honing design skills, the FabLab has it all,” Virtucio bared.

This Php3.2M project supported by the DTI Shared Service Facility (SSF) Program, highlights DTI’s commitment to enhancing productivity, competitiveness, and market access for MSMEs.  

According to Virtucio, among the core values of the SSF-Fab Lab are innovation by supporting cutting-edge research and the development of transformative solutions; creativity by offering space and resources for individuals to explore and realize their creative potential and collaboration by promoting partnerships across disciplines and sectors to enhance learning and accelerate innovation.

She added that it also included entrepreneurship by fostering an entrepreneurial spirit that drives economic progress and personal growth; empowerment by equipping the community with the foundational skills and tools needed to realize their full potential; and accessibility by making the facilities and programs available to all.

"Through DTI's Shared Service Facility Program, we are not only providing access to advanced tools but also fostering an environment where ideas can be turned into tangible, market-ready products.  We are excited to see how this facility will help our MSMEs thrive and our community continue to push the boundaries of what's possible." Virtucio stated.

Dr. Robert Guino-o II, interim executive director for Research, Innovation, and Publication, cited the transformative potential of Fab Labs to offer access to the environment, skills, materials, and advanced technology needed to create virtually anything.  However, he urged that the new facility must align its goals with the pressing challenges of the 21st century.      

“Our goals should be rooted in addressing the critical environmental threats of the 21st century, including global warming and its related crises, plastic pollution and microplastics, and both surface and groundwater pollution,” Guino-o said in his closing remarks.

This shared commitment should be guided by the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and Silliman University’s timeless vision: ‘Via, Veritas, Vita – The Way, The Truth, and The Life,’” Guino-o concluded. (Photos:SU Camera Club & DTI-NegOr)