On July 26, 2023, the Ateneo Intellectual Property Office (AIPO) held the official launch and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Ateneo Blue Nest Incubator at the Sandbox Zone, Areté in the Ateneo de Manila University, Loyola Heights campus.
Photo: Attendees of the Ateneo Blue Nest Launch (Areté, 2023)
Ateneo Blue Nest is the start-up incubation program of Ateneo managed by the Commercialization and Business Incubation group of AIPO. It was originally conceived from AIPO’s predecessor office, the Technology Management Office (TMO), to translate Ateneo’s research output into commercially viable products and services but has now expanded to support and promote a culture of innovation in the country.
Photo: The Ateneo Intellectual Property Office (AIPO) Team
With financial support from the Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) Higher Education Institution Readiness for Innovation and Technopreneurship (HEIRIT) Program, AIPO was given the necessary resources to expand and accelerate its services as a university-based Technology Business Incubator (TBI) to help further strengthen the startup and innovation ecosystem of the country. Ateneo Blue Nest caters to the needs of startups both within and outside of the university by facilitating access to the university’s resources as well as drawing intellectual talents from the university’s extensive roster of faculty, scientists, researchers, alumni, and students. Services offered by the incubator also include business registration and admin support, fund-sourcing, investor matching, an option to avail of office space within the Ateneo, and expert mentoring.
Photo: Opening remarks from Fr Roberto Yap, SJ (Areté, 2023)
The launching ceremony was opened by Fr Roberto C Yap, SJ, president of the Ateneo de Manila University, followed by a message from Engr. Niñaliza H. Escorial, Deputy Executive Director of the DOST - Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD).
Photo: Message from Engr Niñaliza Escorial (Areté, 2023)
A briefer on the university’s efforts for sustainability and university-enterprise engagement was presented by Dr. Charlotte Kendra Gonzales, Director of the Ateneo Institute of Sustainability (AIS), and one of the Philippine project leaders of the Strengthening University-Enterprise Collaboration for Resilience Communities in Asia (SECRA).
Photo: Message from Dr Charlotte Kendra Gotangco-Gonzales (Areté, 2023)
At the forefront of AIPO's mission, the Ateneo Blue Nest Incubation Program proudly aligns itself with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With a steadfast commitment to fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, the Ateneo Blue Nest empowers start-ups to address pressing global challenges and contribute to sustainable development.
Photo: Message from Engr Benjamin Mirasol (Areté, 2023)
The crowd also heard a message from Engr Benjamin Mirasol, Head of CBIG and the Ateneo TBI manager before the ribbon cutting ceremony took place.
Photo: Ribbon-cutting proper (Areté, 2023)
The program was formally closed by the Director of AIPO, Dr Proceso “Jon” Fernandez, Jr, with a call for all the participants to become active contributors to building a successful innovation ecosystem. He also challenged the Ateneo Blue Nest team to aim in supporting 50 startups by the end of the 2-year grant duration from DOST.
Photo: Closing words from Dr Jon Fernandez (Areté, 2023)
Another highlight of the program was the networking session wherein startup founders who were present got to introduce themselves and their work in front of the distinguished guests and potential collaborators from different industries and agencies. Startups who were present in the event were 4Gives app for financial services, EAL Air & Water Technologies, Jeremake - portable and low-cost microscopy for education, TQHQ - healthcare records solutions, Technocrafts - disaster response technologies, Traxx - field personnel monitoring solutions, Smart LPLS - low-cost phototherapy light systems for newborns, Bamboo Impact Lab for repurposing bamboo waste materials, Pili Seal - sustainable aircraft sealant technology, and Exora - energy management for industries and corporations.
Photo: Inv. Ernesto Labuntog during the introduction of startup founders (Areté, 2023)
The launch of the Ateneo Blue Nest Incubator represents a promising step towards driving innovation, translating research into commercially viable products and services, and contributing to sustainable development in the Philippines. With the university's rich pool of intellectual talent and resources, along with the backing of the DOST, the Ateneo Blue Nest is poised to make a significant impact on the startup and innovation ecosystem of the nation.
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To know more about the Ateneo Blue Nest, you may visit www.aipo.ateneo.edu/bluenest. You may also follow AIPO’s social media accounts: www.facebook.com/AteneoIPO and www.linkedin.com/company/AteneoIPO for more updates and announcements.
To learn more about SECRA, visit https://drrcollab.org/.