AIPO Conducts On-Site Workshop for STEP2 Participants

The Ateneo Intellectual Property Office (AIPO) held an on-site workshop of the SPRINT–Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Program (STEP) 2025 on September 16–17, 2025, at The Loft, Areté, Ateneo de Manila University. The two-day activity brought together innovators, mentors, and experts for an intensive learning session focused on intellectual property, business development, and financial literacy for technology-based ventures.

The program gathered a promising cohort of twelve (12) university startup teams and research institutions across the Philippines:

1. BRAVE from De La Salle University (DLSU)

2. SunSHARE from the University of the Cordilleras (UC)

3. Tera PH from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB)

4. CARE from the University of the Philippines Diliman (UP Diliman)

5. Wameter from the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU)

6. HISTORY from Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU)

7. Re-LiB from the University of the Philippines Diliman (UP Diliman)

8. FAT APP from the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI)

9. Cococool from Mindanao State University–Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT)

10. TrafficEz from the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP)

11. CLAIM from the Industrial Technology Development Institute–Department of Science and Technology (ITDI-DOST)

12. InfraspeX from Mindanao State University (MSU)

The program opened with welcome remarks from Dr Proceso “Jon” Fernandez, Director of AIPO. (This was immediately followed by a Team Organization Workshop led by Mr George “GQ” Quitoriano, AIPO’s Resident Entrepreneur. This workshop helped participants simulate spin-off company  formation and explore the dynamics of building startup teams.

Dr Fernandez led the succeeding sessions on Intellectual Property (IP) Fundamentals, Patent Basics, Prior Art Search, and Core Technology Identification, emphasizing how innovators can recognize and protect the novelty of their technologies. His sessions guided the teams in assessing their inventions’ potential for commercialization while ensuring a solid IP foundation.

Photo: Dr Jon Fernandez and Mr GQ Quitoriano during STEP2 Onsite session

In the afternoon, Engr Aldrex Aviso of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines – Documentation, Information, and Technology Transfer Bureau (IPOPHL-DITTB) tackled IP Strategy and Freedom to Operate, discussing how early-stage ventures can avoid infringement risks and position their innovations for market success.

The second day focused on the financial aspects of technology commercialization. Dr Michael Tan, Director of the Ateneo Business Resource Center and faculty of the John Gokongwei School of Management, discussed Financial Fundamentals, Cost Analysis, Break-even and ROI Calculations, and Five-Year Sustainability Planning. His sessions equipped participants with tools to analyze the financial viability of their projects.

Dr Ma Corazon “Corieh” Halili-Dichosa, Executive Director of the DTI–Board of Investments, complemented the discussions with a talk on Tax Incentives for Spin-Offs, highlighting government programs and fiscal support for innovation-driven startups.

Bringing the intensive two-day session to a close was Engr Benjamin Mirasol, Head of AIPO’s Commercialization and Business Incubation Group, who commended the participants for their active involvement. The event ended with a networking session, encouraging collaboration among researchers, mentors, and industry partners.

Photo: Photo Opportunity of STEP 2 On-Site Workshop

Following the workshop, the teams will continue with dedicated mentorship to further develop their business models and technology roadmaps. The SPRINT-STEP Program aligns with AIPO’s vision to nurture sustainable innovations that benefit society by empowering Filipino innovators—bridging research and entrepreneurship to transform ideas into market-ready solutions. At the same time, the program responds to Ateneo de Manila University’s Lux in Domino strategic area of bridging cultural divides.

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To know more about the SPRINT-STEP program and Ateneo Intellectual Property Office, visit: www.aipo.ateneo.edu/sprint-step and www.aipo.ateneo.edu or follow them on social media for the latest updates and announcements via www.fb.com/AteneoIPO or www.linkedin.com/company/AteneoIPO.