Empowering partnerships: SECRA culmination meeting in Sri Lanka

The culminating event of the Strengthening University-Enterprise Collaboration for Resilient Communities in Asia (SECRA) project took place in Sri Lanka from 15 to 21 March 2024 marking a significant milestone in the collaborative efforts to foster resilience and innovation in the region.

The event was kicked off with an opening ceremony on the night of 15 March, setting the stage for the next two days of insightful discussions and presentations for the 1st Colombo International Conference on University-Industry Collaborations for Sustainable Development (ICSD) 2024. The conference proper was held from 16 to 17 March and provided a platform for stakeholders to present their research and explore innovative solutions to pressing challenges.

One of the highlights of The Colombo Conference was the presentation of a paper by the Ateneo Intellectual Property Office (AIPO) team on their design thinking approach to driving health innovations forward. The paper showcased how the process of design thinking helped Ateneo researchers, in collaboration with industry partners, approach creative problem-solving, highlighting the crucial role of university-enterprise collaboration in driving meaningful change.

Following the Colombo Conference, the days of 19 to 21 March were dedicated to the SECRA Sri Lanka Meeting, where project consortium partners convened to reflect on the achievements, challenges, and lessons learned throughout the multi-year project. The meeting provided an opportunity to review the progress made in strengthening university-enterprise collaboration and fostering innovation for disaster risk management not only in Sri Lanka but across Asia as well.

The Ateneo was represented by SECRA Project members from the the John Gokongwei School of Management (JGSOM): Mr Joselito Olpoc; Ateneo Institute of Sustainability (AIS): Mr Daniel C Ratilla and Ms Jean Jardeleza-Mijares; and members from the AIPO: Ms Mariela Alcaparas and Mr Bryan James Erfe. Throughout the Sri Lanka Meeting, participants engaged in lively discussions, interactive workshops, and collaborative sessions aimed at identifying opportunities for future collaboration and sustainable impact. Additionally, representatives from the AIS facilitated a Systems Thinking Workshop during the SECRA meeting, providing valuable insights into holistic problem-solving approaches. 

The SECRA culmination meeting served as a platform for knowledge exchange, capacity building, and networking among stakeholders, paving the way for continued efforts to build resilient communities in the region. Through harnessing the collective expertise, resources, and commitment of partners from Sweden, the United Kingdom, Estonia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and the Philippines, the SECRA project was able to make meaningful contributions to building a more resilient and sustainable future for communities across Asia.

Interested in collaborating with us? Feel free to contact the Ateneo Intellectual Property Office (AIPO) (aipo@ateneo.edu) or the Ateneo Institute of Sustainability (AIS) (ais@ateneo.edu). 

To learn more about the SECRA project you may visit http://drrcollab.org/.