Success Stories - S•E•C•R•A

Success

Stories

University-Enterprise Synergy:

The Ateneo de Manila University and Leave a Nest's Collaborative Journey

Ateneo’s Alumni-led SolX becomes First NDC Gov’t Equity Backed Tech Start-Up

In a major win for SolX Technologies Inc., the Philippine government is throwing its support behind the energy startup through the Startup Venture Fund (SVF)National Development Corporation (NDC), this move is a game-changer for SolX and the local startup scene.

SolX is also partnering with Japanese investor Real Tech Holdings Co., Ltd., making history as the first recipient of SVF support and Real Tech’s first investment in a Philippine company. The investment announcement was made by NDC last 24 October 2023, at the National Development Company Building – Philippine Innovation Hub.

SolX Technologies offers a platform that simplifies energy processes, helping businesses like Converge ICT and Digital Edge Philippines save over PHP 400 million on energy costs. SolX’s digital energy platform aims to help local businesses find affordable power options. It is like a marketplace for electricity, giving consumers more control and helping lower power costs.The P11-million investment from NDC, part of the SVF, supports SolX’s mission to make clean energy accessible. Real Tech’s investment adds global clout and tech expertise to SolX’s journey.

SolX started as a student-led startup in Ateneo and has since evolved to be one of the successful incubatees of the Ateneo Blue Nest, which they later successfully graduated from. The Ateneo Blue Nest, a DOST-supported Technology Business Incubator (TBI), is an incubation program of the Ateneo Intellectual Property Office (AIPO) designed to provide support to students, faculty, and innovators both within and outside the Ateneo community in commercializing sustainable and innovative ideas for the benefit of society.

This investment by the NDC and Real Tech is a positive sign of the Philippine startup ecosystem’s commitment to supporting innovative enterprises in the country. AIPO looks forward to supporting more trailblazers set to leave a lasting impact on the Philippine startup landscape.

platform for health information

For almost a decade, researchers from ADMU’s Department of Information Systems and Computer Science, and the Ateneo Center for Computing Competency and Research have conducted continuous R&D to create a platform for health information. These efforts finally culminated into one of the university’s first technology licenses to a spinoff company established to bring the platform to the market. The platform is now well-integrated into the healthcare industry and is used by multiple doctors, clinics, and health centers.

From Research to Spinoff:

Tantum Quantum Headquarters

PNU-SECRA Community Start Up Event for Kabuhayan Para Kay Juana Program

Community extension programs, vital for empowering local communities with education and skills, often thrive through strategic collaborations. One standout example is the partnership between the Community Partnership and Extension Unit of Philippine Normal University South Luzon and the Strengthening University-Enterprise Collaboration for Resilient Asia (PNU-SECRA). Together, they have leveraged the Sustainable Livelihood of Household Managers program, also known as Kabuhayan Para Kay Juana, to bridge gaps in formal education and help community members obtain livelihood programs.

In a recent startup event held at Brgy. Lalaguna Lopez, Quezon, this collaboration took center stage. At precisely 9:00 a.m., the SECRA Team Lead, Dr. Darryl Montebon, and Members, Dr. Leah Amor Cortez, Dr. Arlyne Marasigan, and Mr. Mike Renon joined forces with PNUSL officials, to offer lectures, business seed fund, and starter kits for budding entrepreneurs. Dr. Montebon highlighted the program’s purpose and achievements, underscoring the importance of SECRA’s involvement.

Throughout the event, SECRA’s contributions were evident, from guiding discussions on business fundamentals to facilitating interactive activities aimed at igniting entrepreneurial spirit. As participants brainstormed unique business names and absorbed valuable insights, SECRA members stood alongside Dr. Montebon, ensuring the success of each endeavor. Their collaborative efforts not only sparked enthusiasm among attendees but also reinforced the program’s mission of fostering sustainable livelihoods within the community.

The MMCL’s initial project partnership with PTC resulted to the following milestones: (1) conduct of the Citizens Training Program & Master Training Program, which mobilized an estimated 350 students and faculty members of the HEI; (3) acuired the knowledge and simple skills in the use o the Master of Disaster (MOD) board game that teaches how to prepare and actively respond to different calamities in the Philippines, where the MMCL students also learned basic concepts/terms in DRR in a fun way; (3) creating a pool of PTC-RISE MCL Volunteers – MCL student volunteers through the Mapúa-PTC College of Maritime Education and Training (Mapúa-PTC CMET); and (4) Integration of modules on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM), with the addition of gende-based violence in emergencies or GBViE into the general materials on DRR and the National Service Training Program (NSTP) courses to mainstream topics about climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. For 2024, the MMCL is set to renew its partnership with PTC under the RISE Program for Safer Schools. Noteworthy is MMCL’s continuing efforts in integrating the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) in our activities.

MMCL - Philippine Transmarine Carriers, Inc. (PTC) Project RISE

Resiliency Improvement Support and Education for the Seafarer Community in the Philippines

Agrobrix

Biochar palette produce by using paultry litter. Initially collect paultry litter from paultry farms and then need to be pre processing. After initial processing work need to be start low temperature pyrolysis process and finally need to be palletaliz. Target audience is organic farmers, bio gas production plants and paultry farmers.

Empowering Agriculture: Innovative Solutions for Sustainable Farming

Introduce cutting-edge tools, provide expert consultatuion, and offer ongoing support to farmers worldide

The Colombo Conference

by SECRA – University of Peradeniya

Initiation of the Annual ICSD Conference

The 1^st International Conference on University-Industry Collaboration for Sustainable Development ICSD2024 (the Colombo Conference), a conference to be held annually, initiated with the support of the SECRA Project, led by the University of Peradeniya, in collaboration with the University of Ruhuna and the University of Sri Jayewardenepura was held from 15^th March – 17^th March 2024 in Colombo. https://colomboconference.org

The Mid Sweden University – Sweden, the University of Huddersfield and University of Central Lancashire – UK, Tallinn University – Estonia, Naresuan University, Chieng Mai University and Mahasarakham University – Thailand, Ateneo de Manila University, Philippine Normal University, and Malayan College Laguna – the Philippines were the other main partner universities that attended this event. The opening ceremony was held on 15^th March 2024 at the BMICH, Colombo and the sessions were held on 16^th and 17^th March 2024 at the gapHQ, Colombo. Prof. MD Lamawansa, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Peradeniya was the chief guest, and Prof. Dilanthi Amarathunga from the University of Huddersfield – UK was the guest of honour for the opening ceremony. The keynote speakers were Dr. Ravi Liyanage, the Co-founder and Chairman/CEO of the Raigam group, and Prof. Evangelia Petridou, Professor at Mid Sweden University.

Prof. Ranjith Dissanayake, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Peradeniya with several co-chairs, chaired the Colombo Conference. Prof. Chaminda S. Bandara (Department of Civil Engineering), Ms. Sadeesha Senanayake, and Mr. Lahiru Dissanayake (Research Assistants, SECRA Project) were the event coordinators from the University of Peradeniya.

The leading partner of the SECRA project is Mid Sweden University, Sweden (Project Lead: Prof. Jorgen Sparf and Prof. Prof. Evangelia Petridou). The project is co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union.

The International Pitching Competition by SECRA

The 1^st International Pitching Competition by SECRA in Sri Lanka was held on 17^th March 2024 at the 1^st International Conference on University-Industry Collaboration for Sustainable Development ICSD2024 (the Colombo Conference) at the gapHQ in Colombo.

The event aimed to motivate and support young entrepreneurs. In this event, out of 26 applications, 15 were selected by a panel of experts and those 15 presented their innovations/ business ideas and products. Mr. Chandula Abeywickrema, the Founder and Chairman of the Lanka Impact Investing Network (Private) Ltd (LIIN), Mr. Dhammika Marasinghe, Computer Engineer and Associate Technical Lead at Maturify, Prof. Evangelia Petridou and Prof. Jorgen Sparf, the Mid Sweden University, Prof. Champika Liyanage, the University of Central Lancashire – UK, Prof. Guttila Jayasinghe and Prof. (Emeritus) N. Weerasinghe, the University of Ruhuna were among the panel of evaluators.

The event was organized by the University of Peradeniya, coordinated by Prof. Darshana Yapa, Director, Business Linkage, Innovation, Incubation and Technology Transfer Office (BLII-TTO), together with Prof. Ranjith Dissanayake, Prof. Chaminda S. Bandara, Ms. Sadeesha Senanayake and Mr. Lahiru Dissanayake of the University of Peradeniya.

The leading partner of the SECRA project is Mid Sweden University, Sweden (Project Lead: Prof. Jorgen Sparf and Prof. Evangelia Petridou). The project is co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union.

At ICSD 2024

University of Peradeniya

University of Ruhuna

Fostering Sustainable University-industry Techno-entrepreneurial Collaborations and Innovations in Asian Universities (FOUNTAIN)

The FOUNTAIN Project

Fostering Sustainable University-industry Techno-entrepreneurial Collaborations and Innovations in Asian Universities (FOUNTAIN) co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union is a joint effort of the SECRA Project Partners. The project lead is the University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka coordinated by Prof. Guttila Jayasinghe. The project started in 2023. https://fountain.lk/

FOUNTAIN aims to address the lack of strategic university-industry partnerships in Asian universities in terms of student employability, blended learning, invention and innovation, techno-entrepreneurial skills, curriculum development, multidisciplinary joint research, and other initiatives. The project uses the triple helix concept to form innovative partnerships in higher education institutions (HEI) at partner universities. FOUNTAIN defines, delineates, and records the gaps in university-industry collaboration (UIC) identified through the need assessments carried out with partners in Thailand and Sri Lanka. Further, it aims to boost the alignment of industrial interests with national public interests, mainly in agro-industries, enhance the university curricula with robust industrial training programs, strengthen the university business links, establish a community of practice in the field of agro-industries involving university and industry actors, supports the transition of ideas into practice, and establishes business start-ups while leveraging existing knowledge resources at universities to foster invention, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Further, the proposed centre of excellence in invention, innovation, and entrepreneurship will strengthen university, industry, and research bonds to meet the needs of, graduates, academics, farmers, small and medium-scale entrepreneurs (SME), and other industries in the country and the region.

The policy dialogue organized by the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, with the participation of Prof. Ananda Jayawardane (the University of Moratuwa and Commission member, University Grants Commission), Prof. H.D. Karunaratne (the Vice Chancellor, the University of Colombo), Mr. Duminda Hulangamuwa (Chairman, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce) and Mr. Keerthi Gunawardane (President, Federation of Chamber of Commerce) as the panelists, was held on 16^th March 2024 at the Colombo Conference at the gapHQ in Colombo.

The policy dialog aimed to discuss the policy brief drafted on the University – Enterprise Collaboration for Economic Recovery and Resilience in Sri Lanka under the SECRA Project. The panel discussion was moderated by Prof. Upuli Perera and coordinated by Prof. Lasith Gunawardena of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. Developing a policy brief for Sri Lanka on economic recovery was one of the main achievements of SECRA, coordinated by Prof. Dilanthi Amaratunge, Prof. Richard Haigh, and Mr. Thisara Geethika Perera of the University of Huddersfield, United Kingdom.