The Department of Science and Technology Region XI, together with the Davao City community of innovators, inventors, startups and technopreneurs, welcomes the approval of the landmark ordinance establishing the Davao City Inventions and Innovations Center (DCIIC) during the 14th Regular Session of the 19th City Council of Davao on April 13, 2021.
Authored by Councilor Pilar Braga, chairperson of the Committee on Education, Science and Technology, Art and Culture, the said ordinance seeks to provide a venue where Davao City-based inventors, innovators and startups can access goods, services, and capital so that their inventions and innovations can be fully developed, promoted and funded.
“The DCIIC is envisioned to serve as startup enabler where package of assistance such as prototype building, feasibility study and financial analysis, drafting of project proposals for funding, and intellectual property protection through its in-house experts or tapping into its network of experts of existing research facilities, technology business incubators and innovation centers will be made available for the local innovators, inventors, startups and technopreneurs”, said Councilor Braga.
Aside from establishing the center, the ordinance also supports the creation of the Davao City Invention and Innovation Board (DCIIB) which will be chaired by no less than the City Mayor. The DCIIB will be tasked to develop Davao City’s innovation goals, priorities and long-term strategies. The DOST XI will sit as one of the members of the said Board along with DTI-XI, DICT-XI, PIA-XI, DCCCII, ICT Davao Inc., Davao City’s Inventors and Innovators Group, the Technology Business Incubators’ Group, Bankers Association of the Philippines, and the academe.
Dr. Anthony C. Sales, Regional Director of DOST-XI, sees this trailblazing development as crucial to fostering and sustaining a supportive and sustainable ecosystem for the local inventors and innovators.
“The landmark ordinance sets foot the much-needed legislative support from the local government unit. The establishment of the DCIIC will be pivotal in complementing DOST-XI’s existing and future programs, projects and activities to develop and promote innovations and inventions in Davao City. It will also be a strategic approach for DOST-XI and all other DOST-supported innovation facilities such as the Food Processing Innovation Center at the Philippine Women’s College, the Philippine Genome Center Mindanao Facility in UP Mindanao, the Sentro Mindanao, and the Technology Business Incubators at the University of Mindanao, University of Southeastern Philippines, and UP Mindanao to amplify our services tailored to support and promote the various local inventions and innovations”.
Furthermore, Dir. Sales emphasized that the collaboration of the public and private sectors augurs well for the inventors and innovators who will have easy access to more technical and financial support to eventually commercialize their inventions.
“Aside from the existing DOST programs and services for inventors and innovators, the DCIIC will also expand opportunities by linking interested parties with financing institutions, investors and the market. Consolidating government support from both the national and local levels will greatly boost our innovation ecosystem,” Dir. Sales added.
The center is in line with Republic Act 11293 or Philippine Innovation Act and the Philippine Startup Law signed by President Rodrigo Duterte last year which the DOST fully supports.
Incidentally, the DOST through the Technology Application and Promotion Institute (TAPI) provides services in the promotion of the growth and national competitiveness of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), inventors, and innovators by appropriating funds and giving technical support that also include facilitating acquisition of Intellectual Property Rights and patents. Some of their programs include the following:National Invention Contest and Exhibits (NICE), Regional Invention Contest and Exhibits (RICE), Technology Innovation and Commercialization (TECHNICOM), Venture Financing Program (VFP), DOST-Academe Technology-Based Enterprise Development (DATBED), Invention-Based Enterprise Development (IBED) Program,LANDBANK - TAPI Innovation and Technology (I-Tech) Lending Program, and the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Assistance Program.
