Ateneo Intellectual Property Office receives prestigious Startup Ecosystem Stars (SES) Award for 2024

The Ateneo Intellectual Property Office (AIPO), has received international recognition as a leading driver of innovation and entrepreneurship in the Philippines. The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) together with Mind the Bridge bestowed AIPO with the 2024 Startup Ecosystem Stars (SES) Award in the categories of “Best-in-class Startup Programs” and “Exceptional Industry Support”. The award ceremony took place on December 4, 2024 in Paris, France.

Photo by Mind the Bridge; Mr Bryan James Erfe (center) receiving the award from TVC Labs’ Collaborator-in-Chief Tomi Davies (left) and ICC Executive Board Member Candace Johnson (right)

Photo by Mind the Bridge; Group photo of SES 2024 Awardees and Organizing Committee

The Startup Ecosystem Stars Awards provides recognition to organizations, both public and private, that excel in driving innovation and supporting entrepreneurial growth within their communities. Co-hosted by ICC, which represents over 45 million businesses in over 170 countries, and Mind the Bridge, a global open innovation platform, these awards highlight the best practices of these various organizations that empower startups, attract investment, and cultivate entrepreneurial talent. The 2024 edition recognized 64 organizations across 36 countries, celebrating their significant contributions to transforming local and global startup ecosystems.

AIPO’s Commitment to Innovation

AIPO’s recognition reflects its steadfast commitment to nurturing a thriving ecosystem for technology and knowledge transfer, startup incubation, and intellectual property (IP) management. Through AIPO’s comprehensive IP services, university researchers and students have received support in safeguarding their IP rights and realizing the value of their IP. It has extended this support as well to external startups and businesses enabling AIPO’s IP services to garner acclaim from the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines, the country’s governing body on IP.

Its design-thinking initiatives have empowered aspiring innovators to approach problem-solving with creativity and human-centricity leading to impactful and sustainable solutions. These initiatives have also fostered university-enterprise collaborations, creating opportunities for academia and industry to co-develop practical and innovative solutions.

AIPO’s technology business incubation program, the Ateneo Blue Nest, has provided numerous tech startups over the years with access to funding opportunities, mentoring, and tailored support to enable them to grow, achieve business viability, and eventually, scalability.

Through AIPO, Ateneo has made significant strides in translating university research outputs into commercializable products and services that benefit society. AIPO has consistently been at the forefront of initiatives to bridge the gap between academic research and real-world applications. The SES Award underscores Ateneo’s role in fostering a sustainable and inclusive startup ecosystem. 

As AIPO looks ahead, the focus remains on creating a thriving ecosystem where innovative works are made available for society’s benefit!

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam!