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.

The technology-matching activity stems from the Technological Hive of Regional Innovation for a Vibrant Ecosystem (THRIVE) which is the region’s Regional Inclusive Innovation Center.

It is led by Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and Commission on Higher Education, with the assistance of United States Agency for International Development Science, Technology, Research and Innovation for Development.

DTI Pampanga Business Development Division Chief Ma. Cristina Evangelista explained that THRIVE is a convergence of government institutions, private sector, and the academe initially designed to empower MSMEs by providing them with information, direction, and organization.

“Through THRIVE, we aim to increase knowledge generation and adaption of our commercially-doable researches and development technologies in the region,” she said.

It was launched in the region in March 2021 to propel for a stronger innovation ecosystem and solidify convergence for inclusive and sustainable development. With this, Evangelista emphasized that the THRIVE Innovation Summit will be conducted to promote productivity and competitiveness through innovations, programs, and services by matching the requirements of industries to the research and development initiatives of the academe.

“We will continue our promotion and advocacy of expanding our convergence mechanism. We will use our industry groups and chambers of commerce to help us in the THRIVE Central Luzon initiative,” she added. She further shared that the THRIVE team has already done pre-matching activities where the academe and MSMEs talked about their requirements, available technologies, and how to adopt these.

For his part, DOST Science Research Specialist Kenneth Soratio underscored that through the summit, they are expecting that many partnerships will be formed and many entrepreneurs will be urged to venture in innovation to boost their production and business operations. “We aim to promote the research outputs of our universities and colleges across Central Luzon, and other research institutions to be used by our MSMEs. We will do this summit so that research will not be limited to the four corners of our laboratories,” he pressed.

He highlighted that the summit will also enable government-supported technology business incubators and innovation centers in the region to present their array of programs and services that are intended to serve and benefit the MSMEs.

Activities during the summit include a workshop on innovation and development, and a talk show about the challenges faced by small businesses and how to strengthen the collaboration between the government, industries, and academe.

There will also be an awarding ceremony to recognize the partnerships formed between universities and MSMEs.

Those who opt to attend and participate in the innovation summit may visit THRIVE Central Luzon website at https://thrivecentralluzon.com. (MJSC/JLDC-PIA 3).