The commercialization and marketing arm of the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) is opening its programs for pre-commercialized projects of startups and institutions and for tech-based micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
Earlier last week on its official Facebook page, DoST-Technology Application and Promotion Institute (DoST-TAPI) announced the opening of its call for proposals for its two Technopreneurship Programs, namely the Technology Innovation for Commercialization (TECHNiCOM) Program and the Venture Financing Program (VFP).
As the commercialization and marketing arm of DoST, TAPI awards grants, provides venture financing, and renders technical services to all types of inventors and innovators throughout their technology development journey.
The agency said in its announcement that the Technopreneurship Programs provide opportunities for innovators and entrepreneurs in the country to refine their technologies, field and market test their product or service, finance the raw materials they need to produce their goods, and expand their operations and grow their business.
TECHNiCOM particularly provides multimillion grants to pre-commercialization projects involving technologies with market potential, and it fast-tracks the market readiness of locally-developed innovations and technologies.
Eligible proponents for this program are academic institutions, including state universities and colleges (SUCs) and private higher education institutions (HEIs); DoST and other public research and development Institutions (RDIs); and startup companies.
To qualify, SUCs, HEIs, and RDIs should not have their previous R&D funded, managed, or monitored by any of the DoST Sectoral Councils. Startups, meanwhile, must be operating for at least one year and less than seven years; must be registered as a corporation; and must have received funding and is duly endorsed by a DoST Sectoral Council, such as the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD), Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD), or the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD).
In addition, the technology of the proponents must reach Technology Readiness Level 4, under which a low fidelity or rough prototype of the technology is available and an application for the prototype is identified and tested.
Core to a project that will be admitted by TECHNiCOM are substantial technology refinement activities, including commercial protoyping, pilot-scale or scaled-up testing, and technology validation, among others. Adding business development activities are also encouraged to ensure a successful market launch.
TECHNiCOM does not cover the following activities: food formulation, unless it is a functional food product designed for a specific health-related problem or industry solution; purely establishment of facilities; discovery, development of new products, the establishment of proof of concept, and basic research; technologies for extension purposes and not commercialization (e.g., farming/breeding techniques, management protocols, etc.); technologies without previously conducted and documented R&D output; and technologies ready for commercialization/market entry (request is geared for commercial production/manufacturing and expansion).
More information about the TECHNiCOM Program can be found on https://tinyurl.com/TECHNiCOMCallPage. The proposal document for a TECHNiCOM proposal can be accessed at https://tinyurl.com/TECHNiCOMProposalForm2023.
The VFP, on the other hand, provides a financing mechanism for commercialization projects involving mature technologies of tech-based MSMEs. Featuring up to P2 million worth of financing, the program helps enterprises meet their customer demands and expand their businesses.
Eligible proponents for VFP are tech-based MSMEs with 60% Filipino ownership and that are either corporations, partnerships, sole proprietors, or cooperatives in operation for at least three years. Moreover, as tech-based MSME eligible proponents are either a holder of an active intellectual property (IP) filing, an adopter of technology generated or funded by the DoST, a previous or current DoST beneficiary, or a technology licensee. Beneficiaries of the department’s Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program, or SETUP, from the department’s regional offices are also encouraged to apply.
Eligible proponents should also currently be in the commercialization phase and not in the discovery or pre-commercialization phase.
MSMEs interested in securing a license for a DoST-generated technology may also be supported by VFP.
More information about VFP can be found at https://tinyurl.com/VFPCallPage2023. The proposal document for VFP can be accessed at https://tinyurl.com/VFPProposalForm2023.
The deadline for submitting proposals, both for TECHNiCOM and VFP, is on Mar. 31 at 5 p.m.
Proponents who need help in completing a proposal or consultation on a potential project can prepare a draft proposal and book a consultation with DoST-TAPI by visiting https://tinyurl.com/REGISTERConsultationWriteshop.
Details of our Call for Proposals can also be accessed through this link: http://www.tapi.dost.gov.ph/call-for-proposals
DoST-TAPI will also give stakeholders a walkthrough of the two Technopreneurship Programs on its online “TechnoBYAHE” orientation sessions on Feb. 20 at 2 p.m. and on Feb. 21 at 10 a.m. Only 500 attendees will be accommodated on each day. Those interested to attend may register in the following links: https://tinyurl.com/TechnoBYAHERegisterFeb20 for Feb. 20 and https://tinyurl.com/TechnoBYAHERegisterFeb21 for Feb. 21.
