AIPO and SOSE Honor Winners of the SOSE-SVBB 2025 Competition for Student Research with the Highest IP Potential

On May 9, 2025, the Ateneo de Manila University School of Science and Engineering (SOSE), in partnership with the Ateneo Research Institute of Science and Engineering (ARISE),  the Ateneo Intellectual Property Office (AIPO), and Sapalo Velez Bundang and Bulilan (SVBB) Law Offices, announced the overall winner of the SOSE-SVBB Competition for Student Research with the Highest IP Potential. 

The competition was part of the SOSE Week 2025, where students from the school of science and engineering were invited to submit their pitch decks and invention summaries for a chance to win a cash prize funded by the SVBB Endowment Fund, as well as intellectual property assistance from AIPO for patent application and possible further incubation and mentorship.

Image: Group photo of the presenters with the panel of judges from AIPO, joined by Dr Raphael Guerrero, SOSE Dean, and Dr Lyndon Mark Olaguera, SOSE Research Coordinator.

The student entries were initially screened by the AIPO’s selection committee. The finalists were then selected and presented their pitch presentations to the judges on May 8 at PLDT-CTC Room 414. 

Image: Finalists showcasing their innovative technologies during the presentation.

Presentations were evaluated based on the patentability of their research output, comprising 50% of the total score. Commercial readiness and market potential comprised 20% each, while promotion of resilience and sustainability accounted for the final 10%. The panel of judges includes esteemed judges from AIPO—Ms Mariela Alcaparas MSc, Mr Bryan James Erfe, and Ms Vanessa Malapit MSc for patentability; Engr Benjamin Mirasol MBA for commercial readiness; Dr John Luis Lagdameo for market potential; and Mr Lorenzo Tiongson MSc for sustainability. 

Image: Panel of judges from the Ateneo Intellectual Property Office (AIPO). Top row (left to right): Engr Benjamin Mirasol, Head of the Commercialization and Business Incubation Group; Dr John Luis Lagdameo, Acting Director; and Mr Lorenzo Tiongson, MSc, Business Development Officer. Bottom row (left to right): Ms Vanessa Malapit, MSc, Head of the Protection and Education Group; Mr Bryan Erfe, Business Development Officer; and Ms Mariela Alcaparas, MSc, Project Development Officer.

Four (4) technologies made it to the final selection stage. These include hydroponics systems, filtration systems, real-time machine vision and automation systems, and self-service retail technology. 

The overall winners for the competition were Ms Jasmin Kae Blancia, Ms Marion Abbygail de Leon, Mr Andrew Go Alcantara, and Mr Dominic Rodrigo Pagulayan from BS Electronics Engineering and BS Computer Engineering for their winning technology titled GRotate: Drum-type Hydroponic System for Plant Growth using IoT and NDVI Monitoring under the supervision of Mr Jan Kevin Galicia, Engr Maria Leonora Guico and Mr Jose Claro Monje.

Image: The winners of this year’s SOSE-SVBB Competition, awarded by Ms Vanessa Malapit from AIPO, Dr Raphael Guerrero, SOSE Dean, and Atty Ditto Sapalo, Partner from SOSE-SVB Law Offices. 

All awardees were given recognition and certificates by Dr Raphael A Guerrero, Dean of the School of Science and Engineering, and Atty Ditto Sapalo, Partner from the SVBB Law Offices.

Image: Group photo of the organizers, participants, judges, and guests of the pitching event.

The Ateneo Intellectual Property Office and School of Science and Engineering recognize the effort and skill poured by all finalists into their research with the highest IP potential and congratulate the winners of the event.

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