On Friday, March 15, 2024, in The Loft of Areté, Ateneo de Manila University, the Ateneo Intellectual Property Office (AIPO) hosted a workshop for around 40 scientists from across the country during the culmination of the months-long Short-term Program for Researchers on Innovation and Technopreneurship (SPRINT) - S&T Entrepreneurship Program (STEP). The focus of the workshop was clear: to equip the participants with the skills to turn their research into commercial ventures by jump-starting their grant proposal writing.
Under the guidance of the resource speaker, Mr Steve Chaves, the participants delved into effective proposal writing strategies for the FASTRAC program or the Funding Assistance for Spinoff and Translation of Research in Advancing Commercialization (FASTRAC)—a grant aiming to commercialize research projects funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), serving as a bridge and facilitating the journey of these technologies from the lab to the marketplace. The workshop was part of the broader SPRINT-STEP initiative supported by the DOST-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD), designed to close the gap between research and market success.
Mr Chaves steered the workshop towards the art of proposal writing for this grant. He covered essential ground, guiding participants through the intricacies of crafting a compelling proposal. The topics ranged from determining what content merits inclusion, organizing ideas to narrating a compelling innovation story, drafting the initial proposal, to navigating common pitfalls in proposal writing.
Workshops like these serve as another step forward in bridging the often-wide gap between innovation and commercialization in the country, ensuring that Filipino scientific research advances scientific knowledge and contributes to societal progress and economic growth.
To learn more about what AIPO can do for you or your organization, check out: www.aipo.ateneo.edu. You may also follow them on social media for the latest updates and announcements: Facebook / Linkedin.