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One of the cornerstones of the DTI-DOST Inclusive Filipinnovation and Entrepreneurship Roadmap is the establishment of Regional Inclusive Innovation Centers (or RIICs), which will serve as the key driver for the Philippines’ economic transformation. Supported by USAID Science, Technology, Research and Innovation for Development (STRIDE), the RIICs are envisioned to be virtual and physical assembles of different programs (i.e., R&D laboratories, co-working spaces, fabrication laboratories), and entities (i.e., investors, LGUs, start-ups, SMes) in the innovation space. Currently, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao and Legazpi are the four (4) pilot sites, while Regions II, III, 4A, and 9 are the expansion sites.

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, March 17 (PIA) -- Central Luzon launched its Regional Inclusive Innovation Center (RIIC) to propel a stronger innovation ecosystem and solidify convergence for inclusive and sustainable development. Branded as the Technological Hive of Regional Innovation for a Vibrant Ecosystem (THRIVE), the initiative was led by Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Trade and Industry and Commission on Higher Education with assistance of United States Agency for International Development Science, Technology, Research and Innovation for Development. DOST Regional Director Julius Caesar Sicat shared that THRIVE is geared to aid small and medium enterprises (SMEs) affected in the economic crisis brought by the global pandemic. “Recently, President Rodrigo Duterte said that he is thinking of opening up the economy in the coming weeks because we cannot afford to continue on the current strategy which he said led to a lot of people going hungry. I believe that we are all in agreement that the SMEs which comprise around 88% of the businesses that operate in this country play a very significant role in helping our working classes,” he stated.

THE Regional Inclusive Innovation Center (RIIC) was officially launched in Central Luzon by various government agencies and partners in the private sector. The launching was held online through a virtual signing of Memorandum of Agreement for the establishment and maintenance of the structure, which was participated in by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Central Luzon, Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-Central Luzon, and the Commission on Higher Education (Ched)-Central Luzon, together with Bulacan State University (Bulsu), Angeles University Foundation (AUF), Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI)-North Luzon, Bulacan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAid).

The Regional Inclusive Innovation Center (RIIC) was officially launched in Central, Luzon by various government agencies and partners in the private sector. The launching was held online through a virtual signing of Memorandum of Agreement for the establishment and maintenance of the structure, which was participated in by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Central Luzon, Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-Central Luzon, and the Commission on Higher Education (Ched)-Central Luzon, together with Bulacan State University (Bulsu), Angeles University Foundation (AUF), Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI)-North Luzon, Bulacan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

KEY OFFICIALS of government agencies, educational institutions and business groups in Central Luzon recently led the launch of the Regional Inclusive Innovation Center (RIIC) dubbed the Technological Hive of Regional Innovation for a VibrantEcosystem or THRIVE Central1Luzon. The event, held online on March 12, 2021, was capped by the virtual signing of a Memorandum of Agreement for the establishment and maintenance of a RIIC by the lead agencies, the Department of Trade and Indus-try Regional Office II (DTI-3), the Department of Science and Technology Regional Office III (DOST-3) and the Commission on Higher Education Region 3 (CHED-3) together with Bulacan State University (BULSU), Angeles University Foundation (AUF), Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) North Luzon Bulacan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) and the United States Agency for

Key officials of government agencies, educational institutions and business groups in Central Luzon recently led the launch of the Regional Inclusive Innovation Center (RIIC) dubbed the Technological Hive of Regional Innovation for a Vibrant Ecosystem or THRIVE Central Luzon. The event, held online on March 12, 2021, was capped by the virtual signing of a Memorandum of Agreement for the establishment and maintenance of a RIIC by the lead agencies, the Department of Trade and Industry Regional Office III (DTI-3), the Department of Science and Technology Regional Office III (DOST-3) and the Commission on Higher Education Region 3 (CHED-3) together with Bulacan State University (BULSU), Angeles University Foundation (AUF), Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) 2 North Luzon, Bulacan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

As the STRIDE Program reached its end, Regional Inclusive Innovation Centers (RIIC) celebrated their partnership and milestones through the THRIVE Central Luzon STRIDE Send-Off hosted by the RIIC-3 Business Innovation Unit in Bulacan State University (BulSU), which includes mentors from the Bulacan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Region III, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region III, Bulacan State University (BulSU), Tarlac Agricultural University (TAU), Don Honorio Ventura State University (DHVSU), Tarlac State University (TSU), Holy Angel University (HAU), and University of the Philippines Institute for Small Scale Industries (UP ISSI) along with the respected guests and officials from different national, regional and local agencies, MSME beneficiaries and other participants. Ceremonial Appreciation of USAID and Send-Off of the STRIDE team was done virtually and publicly available via livestream on the THRIVE Central Luzon Facebook page.

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga (PIA) -- Central Luzon will aim to match research and development outputs from academic institutions to interested micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through an innovation summit this December.