Trailblazers Take Center Stage: TECH PLAN Demo Day Winners Announced

On May 13, 2023, the highly anticipated TECH PLAN Demo Day in the Philippines 2023 took place at Escaler Hall, Ateneo de Manila University, serving as a platform to celebrate the remarkable advancements made by researchers and developers in addressing the pressing issues faced by the Philippines and Southeast Asia. This event facilitated meaningful connections between innovators and industry leaders, including corporations and investors, propelling the region's technological landscape forward. The culmination of TECH PLANTER in the Philippines 2023 was marked by an awards ceremony, recognizing outstanding contributions and breakthrough solutions.

During the event, the 9 impressive finalists pitched their innovative ideas to a distinguished panel of judges, comprised of representatives from local incubators, corporations, and government institutions, including PLDT, Inc., DOST-PCIEERD, QBO | Ideaspace, NRI Singapore Pte. Ltd. Manila Branch, and Beavrr. Esteemed Japanese corporations, such as Leave a Nest Philippines, Inc., Focus Systems Corporation, EBARA Corporation, Euglena Co., Ltd., and Real Tech Holdings Singapore Pte. Ltd., also participated in the deliberation process. Simultaneously, 6 lightning talk teams captivated the audience of global and local partners with their insightful solutions to current and future challenges.

Following a meticulous evaluation process, the teams were honored with cash prizes and gained access to valuable sources from the various companies present. However, only one team would be crowned as the Grand Winner, earning an invitation to present their groundbreaking work at the prestigious TECH PLANTER Asia Final 2023 in Malaysia, alongside a PHP 50,000 cash prize.

The ceremony commenced with the presentation of the Corporate Awards. ARES emerged as the recipient of the PLDT Enterprise Award, presented by Ms Kristine Dara Ever Juan of PLDT, Inc. This award recognized ARES' air recovery energy system for poultry farms, showcasing their alignment with PLDT's vision in providing IoT solutions to communities through telecommunication technology.

As the Real Tech Holdings Singapore Award recipient, Makiling Tek, Inc was honored for their nanoformulated macronutrient fertilizer, earning a PHP 30,000 cash prize presented by Mr Daiki Kumamoto of Real Tech Holdings Singapore. Their unique solution demonstrated significant potential in addressing agricultural challenges in the Philippines.

EnviSense stood out among the participants, winning not one, but two awards. Their customizable groundwater monitoring system impressed the judges, leading to the presentation of the first award by Mr Ryo Inori of Focus Systems Corporation. EnviSense received a PHP 30,000 cash prize and was recognized for its international development potential, offering a possible solution to other countries facing similar challenges. The Leave a Nest Award, presented by Dr Yevgeny Aster Dulla of Leave a Nest Philippines, acknowledged EnviSense's capacity to address groundwater-related issues through Leave a Nest's extensive connections. This award included an invitation to present their promising technology at the TECH PLANTER Asia Final 2023 in Malaysia.

Finally, Dr Enrico Paringit of DOST-PCIEERD took the stage to present the grand prize. Biocoat-Z emerged as the Grand Winner, receiving a PHP 50,000 cash prize and the honor of representing the Philippines at the prestigious TECH PLANTER Asia Finals 2023. The judges were captivated by Biocoat-Z's nanoclay particle film for cacao pods, which offered a cost-effective, user-friendly, and abundant zeolite-based solution to combat insects, ultimately boosting cacao production not only in the Philippines but worldwide.

Driven by Ateneo Intellectual Property Office’s dedication to fostering innovation, sustainability, and community resilience, we are thrilled to actively participate in this initiative that introduces deep technologies to society. Our engagement in the SECRA (Strengthening University-Enterprise Collaboration for Resilient Communities in Asia) program empowers us to make meaningful contributions towards building resilient communities in Asia. By strengthening collaborations among universities, public authorities, non-government organizations (NGOs), and industries, our goal is to enhance disaster risk reduction efforts and create resilient communities. Beyond fostering collaborations between researchers and investors, this event served as a platform for sharing deep technology and showcasing the unwavering passion to address current challenges with innovative solutions.

For more information about AIPO and its services, please visit www.aipo.ateneo.edu or email them at aipo@ateneo.edu. You may also check out its Facebook and LinkedIn pages for the latest updates and announcements. For more information about Leave a Nest and its services, please visit global.lne.st.