As one of the applicants for Higher Education Institution Readiness for Innovation and Technopreneurship or the HEIRIT program, the HEIRIT UPSCALE Team held an Assessment Visit at Pangasinan State University-Bayambang Campus through a program at the Learning Resource Center, on May 10, 2022.
The said visit is a requirement for HEIs that are submitting proposals for the DOST HEIRIT Preparatory Training Program funding the establishment of university-based technology business incubators.
In her welcoming remarks, Dr. Liza L. Quimson, campus executive director, emphasized that the aim of the campus in joining the program is in line with the goal of the entire university to be globally acknowledged experts in pioneering and innovating research in the field of education, science, technology, and other related disciplines.
The University President, Dr. Dexter R. Buted, also showed his support to the campus through a pre-recorded message. โWe considered this as a challenge and opportunity to nurture innovative minds. Therefore, it is my great pleasure to engrave my commitment to this innovative and groundbreaking endeavor,โ Buted stressed.
To formally start the assessment, Dr. Catalina C. Platon, Director of ITSO PSU, introduced the Technology and Business Incubation (TBI) team of the university. Afterwards, Dr. Christian Thom Tabisola, proceeded to the presentation of Technopreneurship and TBI Champions in Research and Academic wherein he emphasized the different enhancements in PSU which are the following; a. Human Resources Management; b. Land and Physical Resources; c. Financial and Administration; d. Machinery and Equipment Available and; e. Strong Network and Linkages.
Moreover, Dr. Tabisola discussed the reasons why the university needs TBI. According to him, TBI will be of great help to Academic / Instructions; Research / Innovation; Extension / Livelihood development, and; Production and Administration. Meanwhile, Ms. Meryl A. Bernardino, FIC project staff, discussed the use of the processing facility and the rental of equipment in the FIC.
Subsequently, Ms. Margarita Caparas, HEIRIT 2 UPSCALE Project Lead, presented some documentations and briefings about PSU Food Innovation Center Technopreneurship services to the assessors by highlighting the use of processing facility and rental of equipment, RND developed technologies, technical assistance, and consultancy services, transfer of technology and the extension and skills training.
Furthermore, Dr. Louie Sison, Project Leader of Upscale Innovation Hub, stated the four main advantages of the TBI program which are Bagong Produkto, Bagong Negosyo, Dagdag na kita and Dagdag na trabaho.
In the last part of the program, Dr. Veronica C. Austria, TBI Manager, instill the main goal of TBI team which is to become a catalyst of change and generator of business.
Before the program, PSU- BC welcomed the UPSCALE Team delegates to its multi-awarded PSU-DOST 1- Food Innovation Center (FIC) where they were introduced to the various processing equipment which improves product quality and increases the production. During the said visit, The FIC team also presented its award-winning products such as the Indian mango chips, onion chips, vacuum fried squash, crispy okra, burong walang amoy, pineapple plum, yummy tupig, and kalamay, among others.
