Setting the stage for PH Startup Week 2025, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) opened its 9th National Technology Business Incubator (TBI) Summit with a powerful declaration: the future of Philippine innovation is “regional, it is plural, and it is archipelagic.” Held in Bacolod City with the theme “The Innovation Archipelago: Connecting Ecosystems, Expanding Horizons,” the summit served as a call to action for local entrepreneurs, rebranding the pursuit of technological advancement as the nation’s “new expression of patriotism.”
An Urgent Call for Archipelagic Growth
DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum, Jr. did not mince words, noting the country’s slip in the Global Startup Index from 60th to 64th place. He emphasized that this downward trend can only be reversed by looking beyond Manila and empowering regional hubs.
“If we are to climb back, if we are to rank up on the global stage, then we must look beyond one city and one center. The future of Philippine innovation is not Metro Manila alone,” Secretary Solidum stated. “If we are to recover our place, if we are to expand our horizons, it will be because our TBIs in the regions refused to settle for provincial status and instead claimed their seat at the world’s table.”
The TBI program, implemented through partnerships with higher education institutions, has already yielded impressive results, including 5,576 jobs created and Php1.89 billion in private investments attracted. The Secretary highlighted successful Negros-based ventures, such as Plantsville Health and Ayo Biomedical Technologies, as proof that incubators provide the “essential support structures” necessary to turn raw ideas into practical, stubborn solutions.
Targeting the 2030 Vision for Global Competitiveness
Driving the strategic push is the framework set by the Innovative Startup Act (ISA). Dr. Leah J. Buendia, DOST Undersecretary for Research and Development, outlined the ambitious targets for 2030, which are centered on strengthening Incubators, Startups, and Accelerators.
The goals include increasing the TBI network by 50 new incubators, ensuring 90% of all TBIs are self-sustaining, and achieving a twofold increase in both the number of Philippine startups and the number of funded startups. Most ambitiously, the vision includes raising $10 Billion in investments and producing four Filipino “Unicorns” (startups valued at over $1 billion).
“To truly level up, we need strong support from our policy levers. When TBIs are stronger, they become effective multipliers of innovation. When startups are empowered, they create jobs, solutions, and impact across our archipelago,” said Usec. Buendia.
PCIEERD’s NEXUS and the Pillars of Success
The strategic execution of this vision falls under the purview of the DOST-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD). Executive Director Dr. Enrico C. Paringit discussed the Council’s guiding framework, the NEXUS OF INNOVATION, which ensures that projects harness S&T capabilities, integrate technology with business, and create a supportive policy environment.
Dr. Paringit noted that through the ReSEED program, the number of provinces with startup activities has already increased from 39 to 59, directly contributing to the growth of the national startup count to 2,022. The agency supports this growth through the Startup Grant Fund (SGF) Program, which offers a maximum grant of P5 million to refine business models in key areas like Sustainable Industries, Supply Chain, Climate Change Technologies, and Artificial Intelligence.
(Photos courtesy of DOST)
Ms. Russell M. Pili, Chief Science Research Specialist, crystallized the path forward by focusing on what truly matters for ecosystem growth: funding must be used to create Investable Startups, and the goal must be to nurture ventures that can scale and exit. She identified six critical success factors, including Funding, Performance, Market Reach, Talent, Experience, and Knowledge, all of which must be strengthened in the regions.
Cross-Border Collaboration: The Fundamentals of Scaling Up
A crucial element of expanding horizons involves looking outward, a point heavily discussed during the panel session, “Cross-Border Collaboration: Institutionalizing ASEAN & Global Partnerships.” Industry leaders from groups like E3 Philippines, Wadhwani Foundation, and Quest Ventures shared vital advice on achieving global scale.
The consensus from the panel was that regional startups must aggressively pursue networking opportunities within ASEAN and globally, using these connections to build a rich network of mentors and business contacts who can provide strategic guidance and open new markets.
Furthermore, success demands a return to fundamental business discipline. Panelists stressed the need for startups to master the basics: knowing your market intimately, understanding your unit economics, and ensuring that products are not just technologically sound but have a clear, sustainable path to profit. This commitment to financial and market fundamentals is essential for any venture seeking to attract capital and sustain long-term growth beyond the initial seed funding.
The summit concluded with the launch of the ReSEED: Negros Island Region (NIR) Consortium and the renewal of commitment from TBIs under the Higher Education Institution Readiness for Innovation and Technopreneurship (HEIRIT) program, cementing the commitment that the future of Filipino ingenuity will be found not just in its centers, but across its entire innovation archipelago.