The Department of Science and Technology- Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) and QBO Innovation Hub announced the winners of the PH Startup Incubator Awards, a recognition given to top-performing Technology Business Incubators (TBIs) that have demonstrated outstanding capabilities and produced impactful programs and startups during the TBI 4.0 program.
The TBI 4.0 program, funded by the DOST-PCIEERD and led by QBO Innovation Hub, aims to develop world-class TBIs and incubator managers and increase the number of quality tech startups in the Philippines. It encompassed four main strategies namely Co-incubation, Internationalization, Co-development of Programs, and Leveling Up. These strategies are meant to further equip incubators with capabilities to develop Filipino tech startups.
The announcement of winners was held via Zoom and Facebook live platform on April 23, 2021. Each TBI was measured by its impact on each of the respective categories. The winners per categories are as follows:
Best Incubator Infrastructure – Center for Technopreneurship and Innovation (CTI) – Batangas State University
Best Incubator Community Program – SIBOL Labs – University of the Philippines-Los Banos
Best Incubator Startup Program – AIM-Dado Banatao Incubator – Asian Institute of Management
Best Incubator Governance & Operations – UPSCALE Innovation Hub – University of the Philippines-Diliman
Best Incubator Growth & Sustainability – Animo Labs – De La Salle University
Extra Mile Incubator – Animo Labs – De La Salle University
Rising Star Incubator – IDEYA – MSU Iligan Institute of Technology
People’s Choice for Best Incubator Team – IDEYA – MSU Iligan Institute of Technology
Grand Champion – UPSCALE Innovation Hub – University of the Philippines-Diliman
Winners from the Operational Excellence category awards each received a cash prize of PhP50,000 while the more prestigious awards including the Extra Mile Incubator, Rising Star Incubator, and the People’s Choice Incubator each received a cash prize of PhP80,000, as well as PhP100,000 for the grand champion – UPSCALE Innovation Hub.
These winners were among the 12 TBIs who have participated in the program, which upgraded the entire Philippine startup ecosystem through their incubators.
QBO Innovation Hub executive director Katrina Rausa Chan expressed her gratitude to the 12 participating TBIs who have continued to empower startups amid such unprecedented times. “This past year was very challenging it threw a curveball in this project just as we were getting started. I would like to congratulate all of you. In some ways, we’ve made it but in another sense, we’re just getting started. The work will keep going, and the work that we do is important.”
On the other hand, Russell M. Pili, DOST chief, Research Information and Technology Transfer Division, shared that startups along with micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) must prioritize digitization to make processes easier for their own operations and their customers. “With the PH Startup Incubator Awards, we hope to inspire more businesses to make that shift as we recognize and honor the TBIs that are at the forefront of innovation.”
The PH Startup Incubator Awards was introduced by DOST and QBO Innovation Hub to recognize and showcase the country’s TBIs and their accomplishments throughout the TBI 4.0 program, as they continue to support startup businesses through their high-quality innovative training and service offerings. The event, which was initiated in 2019, marks the two-year celebration and culmination of the TBI 4.0 program and the journey of the TBIs who have participated.
