ILOILO City – Western Visayas is stepping up efforts to transform university research and homegrown innovations into commercially viable enterprises, with government agencies, academic institutions and private investors joining forces to create jobs, strengthen local industries and accelerate regional economic growth.
The initiative took center stage at the opening of the 3rd Western Visayas Innovative Startup Fest on October 22, at the SM Iloilo Terminal Market, where stakeholders underscored the need to bridge the gap between academic research and actual business opportunities.
Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Region 6 director Engr. Rowen R. Gelonga said the region must move beyond producing promising research findings and focus on developing marketable products and sustainable enterprises that can generate employment.
“In the startup community across Western Visayas, what we want to see are viable enterprises that can generate jobs and contribute directly to economic growth,” Gelonga stated.
“We do that by connecting the research outputs of our universities to potential startup opportunities — transforming high-quality research into commercial products,” Gelonga added.
The strategy seeks to address a persistent challenge in the region’s innovation sector: converting scientific discoveries, technological developments and university research into businesses capable of competing in commercial markets.
The three-day festival, which runs until October 24, brings together startup founders, investors, researchers, students, entrepreneurs and government officials to explore opportunities for investment, business development and technological innovation.
Carrying the theme “Scaling the Region’s Startup Ecosystem: Enabling Founders, Driving Innovation,” the gathering aims to strengthen the region’s emerging startup industry while encouraging innovations that address pressing community needs.
The event is spearheaded by the Unified Movement in Western Visayas to Accelerate Startup and Spinoff Development (UMWAD) in partnership with DOST, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the Iloilo City and provincial governments, and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) Western Visayas.
Harnessing local talent
UMWAD chairperson and Iloilo Science and Technology University (ISAT U) president Dr. Gabriel M. Salistre Jr. emphasized that Western Visayas already possesses the talent, creativity and resources necessary to build a competitive innovation-driven economy.
What remains crucial, he said, is bringing together researchers, entrepreneurs, investors and government institutions to turn innovative ideas into practical solutions and business opportunities.
“Making solutions, creating opportunities while improving people’s lives. Western Visayas has talented people, creatives, and valuable resources,” Salistre said.
“We have people who are willing to take risks, entrepreneurs who are ready to build businesses, and researchers and innovators who can develop solutions to real-world problems. What we need is to bring these strengths together and to create more opportunities and ideas to grow,” he added.
Salistre stressed that innovation should not be confined to sophisticated technologies, expensive equipment or large-scale investments.
He said meaningful innovations can emerge from ordinary communities, including students developing solutions to neighborhood problems, farmers adopting more productive agricultural practices and small entrepreneurs improving their business operations.
“What matters is that innovation responds to real needs and makes a difference,” he stressed.
He also encouraged aspiring entrepreneurs and innovators to pursue their ideas despite the difficulties associated with establishing new enterprises.
“Continue pursuing your ideas. Every successful enterprise begins with a vision, but grows through hard work, determination, and willingness to learn. To our government agencies, partners, and members of the academe, let us continue working hard to provide our innovators with the support and resources they need,” he added.
Salistre said stronger cooperation among government institutions, universities and the business community would help local startups expand their operations and compete beyond the region.
“By strengthening collaboration, we can help local startups create jobs, support our industries, and compete in national and global markets,” Salistre said.
Linking innovators with investors
The festival features startup pitching sessions, interactive workshops, technology exhibitions and networking activities intended to connect emerging entrepreneurs with potential investors, business incubators and regulatory agencies.
These activities are designed to help innovators develop their business concepts, explore commercialization opportunities and establish partnerships necessary to bring new products and services into the market.
The gathering also provides a platform for universities and research institutions to showcase innovations with potential applications in agriculture, industry, business and community development.
Through closer collaboration among the government, academe and private sector, organizers hope to position Western Visayas as a competitive startup hub capable of producing sustainable enterprises, generating employment and contributing to the region’s long-term economic development.
The festival underscored a broader development objective: ensuring that the region’s scientific research, entrepreneurial talent and innovative ideas translate into tangible economic opportunities and improvements in people’s lives./PN
