Consul General Neil Ferrer and Consul Vanessa Bago-Llona met with leaders from UPERDFI, UPSCALE, UP Technology Transfer and Business Development Office (TTBDO), UP System University Innovations Fellowships Program, UP College of Engineering, UPD College of Science, and DOST-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD) for an exploratory discussion on potential areas for collaboration to boost the Philippine startup ecosystem. The meeting was held on July 16 at the National Engineering Center.
UPSCALE and UPTTBDO Director Dr. Louie Sison facilitated the discussion. In attendance were UPCOE Dean Tonette Tanchuling, UP Innovation Consultant Jimbo Reverente, College of Science Assoc. Dean for Research Deo Onda, UPCOE Artificial Intelligence (AI) Program Professors Pros Naval and Migs Remolona and PCIERRD Staff. UPERDFI Innovation Committee Co-Chairman Chicho Mantaring, past Chairman Alex Sy, ED Tito Aliga and DED Nori Ishikawa joined the meeting.
To address the challenges in the startup ecosystem, the group identified several potential areas for cross-border collaboration such as networking sessions, benchmarking activities, research mentoring, and investing, among others. This strategic meeting marks a significant step towards strengthening the collaboration between Philippine partners and the Philippine Consulate in San Francisco and UP, fostering a more vibrant and interconnected startup ecosystem.
