By Adrianne Lorenzo C. Corpuz, StratCom Correspondent

To accelerate industrial development in the Ilocos region, Mariano Marcos State University is taking the lead in boosting technology startups, and in training entrepreneurs to manage their businesses. Its role is further intensified with the grand launching of the MMSU Bannuar Technology Business Incubator (TBI) on August 14 at the MMSU Teatro Ilocandia. 

The first HEIRIT-TBI in Region I, Bannuar TBI is funded by the Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Resources and Development (DOST-PCIEERD). It aims to revitalize homegrown industries through mentorship, adoption, and technopreneurship. (HEIRIT stands for Higher Education Institution Readiness for Innovation and Technopreneurship.)

The grand launching was led by Dr. Shirley C. Agrupis, MMSU president; Dr. Nathaniel Alibuyog, university vice president for research and extension; and Dr. Enrico Paringit, DOST-PCIEERD executive director. Dr. Leah Buendia, DOST undersecretary for research and development, graced the launching, which coincided with the national Coastal Engineering Summit co-organized by the MMSU-based Coastal Engineering Research Center and DOST. 

Dr. Agrupis said the establishment of Bannuar TBI in MMSU reflects the strong partnership and commitment of the university and DOST in nurturing a vibrant entrepreneurial environment in the region. “Each of us plays a vital role in making this goal a reality, and we are grateful for choosing MMSU as your partner in this noble endeavor,” the university president remarked. 

For his part, Dr. Paringit bared that MMSU is among the only few state universities and colleges in the country which received an exclusive support to its incubation program directly from the DOST-PCIEERD. “I am confident that Bannuar TBI would greatly accomplish its purpose,” he concluded. 

“We are confident that the DOST-MMSU Bannuar TBI will be able to connect students, faculty, researchers, entrepreneurs, business owners, non-government organizations, and financial institutions, and eventually translate these collaborations into jobs and opportunities for technopreneurship,” mused DOST-Secretary Renato U. Solidum, Jr. in his recorded keynote speech. 

Prof. Armie Sabugo, TBI project leader, said that, at present, the team has started assisting incubatees through enterprise and skills development training and mentorship. They have also conducted technopreneurship caravans in Ilocos Norte towns to promote MMSU technologies ready for commercialization and to identify potential partnerships with local micro, small, medium enterprises. 

The Bannuar TBI teaches incubatees on market validation, product development, preparation of business model and plan. They also support them in terms of networking, intellectual property counseling and application, provision of co-working space, fund sourcing and business registration. In turn, the incubatees are expected to participate in activities to develop and commercialize their business ideas. (HLY/JVBT/DPT, StratCom)