DTI puts up biz incubation facility in Laguna

MANILA, Philippines - The government is putting up a technology business incubation (TBI) facility to provide business development services for technology start-ups in Sta. Rosa in Laguna to encourage more investments in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector there.

According to Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) regional director for CALABARZON (Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal-Quezon) Marilou Toledo, the plan to put up a TBI facility was made through the National Industry Cluster Capacity Enhancement Project of the department’s industry cluster development program in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

“Santa Rosa is a global destination and (has) been the ‘center of excellence’ for the ICT industry in CALABARZON as it has succeeded in hosting ICT-enabled businesses and itself a business model of the industry – a strength and reason why we focused on it,” she said.

For her part, Sta. Rosa City Mayor Arlene Arcillas said that with the set-up of a TBI in the area, she is hopeful more opportunities for investments and employment would open in CALABARZON.

The TBI would be set-up at Sta. Rosa’s old City Hall. The TBI in Sta. Rosa would have start-up activities to be undertaken by the Department of Science and Technology’s Information and Communications Technology Office (DOST-ICTO) with the Philippine Software Industry Association.

The TBI is one of the strategies identified by the DOST to promote innovation and technopreneurship in the country.

Through the program, the DOST aims to create jobs, develop entrepreneurs and promote public-private partnership in regional economic development.

A TBI provides physical facilities such as office spaces on a pay-per-use basis for start-ups to help increase their chances of surviving in the early stages of development.

The TBI likewise provides business services such as technical assistance, intellectual property management and legal counseling services, analytical laboratory services, as well as business development and marketing assistance.

DOST-ICTO deputy executive director Monchito Ibrahim said that for technopreneurs to become successful, they need mentors and the basic facilities of an innovation center such as a TBI.

To complement the TBIs, the DOST with its packages of assistance in the form of technical training and funding, would work on ‘ICT preparedness’ alongside state universities and colleges.

Business processing management firms including Convergys, would also be involved in the training of students.

To promote technopreneurship, the DTI said there is also a need to implement dual training systems or a combination of school or classroom learning and job exposure in industries in collaboration with partners in selected industries.