UP-Cebu launches MATIX Lab for more digital/tech-driven, sustainable design education

CEBU CITY – The University of the Philippines (UP)-Cebu embarks on a journey to enhance its design program curriculum with the launching of the Tatak Pinoy new Materials Innovation and Experimentation (MATIX) laboratory, MATIX Website and the opening of its Materials Library, marking the school’s shift towards more digital, technology-driven and sustainable green design education.

“The new facility will soon open to store and organize sustainable materials for development.  This innovative MATIX Lab will support research, collaboration and the advancement of eco-friendly materials for various industries,” Jay Nathan Jore, UP-Cebu Design Program Coordinator said during the launching event on March 21 at the UP-Cebu Campus.

Jore said that MATIX Lab also launched its website to offer an accessible platform to showcase its innovative materials development center in Cebu and to provide information on the center's research, sustainable materials, and collaborative projects.

MATIX Lab is a progressive outcome of the FABLAB that was established in 2005 in UP, Jore recalled that the FABLAB is a Shared Service Facility (SSF) initiative project of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to support local innovation and improve the competitiveness of MSMEs by providing access to equipment and expertise, fostering collaboration, and enabling the development of new products and solutions.

Jore added that the FABLAB at UP-Cebu and now with MATIX Lab, is Cebu’s first and only industrial product design curriculum in the Visayas region and its opening is seen as a new chapter in UP-Cebu’s design program focusing on sustainable and green design. 

MATIX Lab is a partnership venture of DTI-7 and UP-Cebu’s Product Design Program and a collaboration among government agencies such as the Department of Science and Technology (DOST7) among others, advocating for sustainability and support resident makers and researchers.  “The challenge now is to create a curriculum responsive to industry and community needs,” Jore said.

Butch Carungay of the Cebu UNESCO Creative City of Design described the Tatak Pinoy UP- Cebu MATIX Lab as a hub for design, innovation, and commercialization.  The initiative, inspired by a DTI event, aims to bridge academia, government, industry, and the public.

“It will support sustainable innovation and contribute to the Blue Mango Awards, celebrating excellence in design.  The lab aligns with Cebu's UNESCO City of Design status and the Philippine Creative Industries Act.   As a model for national replication, it is expected to foster local, regional, and Filipino solutions with global impact,” Carungay said, emphasizing the importance of long-term sustainability and collaboration among various stakeholders.

Hope Malagar, DTI-7 assistant regional director celebrated the launch of MATIX at UP-Cebu, funded by the Tatak Pinoy program funds.  The Lab aims to foster Filipino creativity and innovation, aligning with the Tatak Pinoy Act's goals to enhance Philippine industries.

“With a 1.7 million funding, the Lab has facilitated collaborations, workshops, and research presentations and addressing the challenge of accessing high-quality, sustainable materials to also support MSMEs in Cebu, fostering globally competitive products,” Malagar said.

Malagar bared that UP-Cebu MATIX Lab can find good use for materials developed in creating more complex and high-value products to further expand Philippine exports and facilitate collaborations within startups and established businesses to create innovative products that are market-ready and globally competitive. (Photos: MBCNewman)