The Commission on Higher Education launched SIBOL, a two-year technology business incubation programme giving 24 state universities and colleges P5 million each to help student innovators commercialise research.
The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has allocated P120 million to a technology business incubation programme for the agriculture and fisheries sectors, intended to help student innovators turn research projects into startups.
The programme, SIBOL: Student Technology Business Incubation Program for the Agri-Aqua Sector, was launched in a ceremony on Thursday. CHED said 24 state universities and colleges (SUCs) nationwide were selected to take part — 12 in Luzon, five in the Visayas and seven in Mindanao.
Each participating SUC receives P5 million over two years. CHED is allocating P60 million per year, totalling P120 million. Each SUC will mentor 10 student innovators, providing capacity-building activities, access to facilities, technical and financial assistance, and industry linkages.
CHED said the programme aims to establish at least 200 local enterprises, and that participating student startups are expected to complete business registration by the end of the two-year implementation period.
CHED Chairperson Shirley Agrupis said the programme aims to help students move beyond research and turn their innovations into viable startup enterprises. She said that each year students and faculty produce promising research and technologies, but many remain as theses, capstone projects or course requirements because they lack opportunities for further development into products, services or startup ventures.
The participating SUCs already operate Agri-Aqua Technology Business Incubators under the National Agri-Aqua Technology Business Incubation Network of the Department of Science and Technology–Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD). At the launch, CHED and Isabela State University presented the programme framework, incubation process and selection criteria, and ISU students showed technologies and prototypes.
Key facts
- Total allocation: P120 million (P60 million annually over two years)
- Per-institution funding: P5 million over two years
- Participating institutions: 24 SUCs — 12 Luzon, 5 Visayas, 7 Mindanao
- Student innovators mentored per SUC: 10
- Target: at least 200 local enterprises
- Programme name: SIBOL: Student Technology Business Incubation Program for the Agri-Aqua Sector
- CHED Chairperson: Shirley Agrupis
