By Crisdeniele Clemente

Exemplifying excellence in innovation and entrepreneurship, Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) together with the Consortium for Sustainability, Innovation, Leadership, Linkages, Access, and Growth (SILLAG) Region I hosted the Ilocos Norte leg of the startup summit and hackathon on July 2-3 at the Center for Flexible Learning.

The two-day event brings together officials from higher education institutions and local partnering agencies throughout Ilocos Norte. Its goal is to facilitate knowledge-sharing sessions and foster collaborative efforts to boost the startup community and tackle regional industrial challenges. The event is part of the “2024 HANDA Pilipinas Luzon Leg and Regional Science, Technology, and Innovation Week” celebration.

The program will also include an exhibit, sessions for sharing experiences, lectures, and mentorship opportunities. It will also feature a Founders and Mentors’ Night, facilitating networking among officials from various agencies. Moreover, participants will present their innovative projects during the pitching competition, and winners will advance to compete in La Union.

During the opening ceremony, MMSU President Shirley C. Agrupis expressed her vision to improve the startup community in the region, saying, “As we organize this summit and hackathon, we commemorate the entrepreneurial spirit and the unwavering pursuit of excellence. Our goal is to bolster the startup community within our region, with aspirations that one day, we will cultivate the country’s first-ever homegrown unicorn.”

Dr. Teresita Tabaog, DOST Region 1 Director, Engr. Arnold Santos, provincial director of DOST-PSTO Pangasin and SILLAG project leader, and Hon. Albert Chua, City Mayor of Batac, also extended their support and commitment to the startup community in the province.

Representatives from the Department of Science and Technology Region I, Ilocos Norte Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Office, Department of Trade and Industry Ilocos Norte, Small, and Medium Enterprise Development Council, loom weavers of Paoay, potters from San Nicolas, and faculty members and students from MMSU and Northwestern University, were also present in the event.

Also in attendance were Dr. Nathaniel Alibuyog, MMSU vice president for research, development, and innovation; Dr. Dionisio Bucao, MMSU director for research, innovation and technology, Mr. Edmundo Casulla, President of the United Pangasinan ICT Council, Engr. Brian Rasco, DOST supervising science research specialist, and officials and employees from the City of Batac, DOST, and SILLAG.

The activity was particulary in partnership with MMSU Bannuar Technology Business Incubator (TBI) led by Prof. Armie Sabugo. In April 2023, MMSU launched its TBI project, funded by the DOST Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Resources and Development (DOST-PCIEERD), which aims to advance technology adoption in enterprise management and foster startup development within the province.