The Department of Trade and Industry Region 3 (DTI-3) and the Bulacan State University (BulSU) recently held a partnership meeting to boost the innovation initiatives of the agency to help micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the region.
On January 5, 2022, DTI-3 Regional Director Leonila T. Baluyut met with BulSU President Cecilia Navasero-Gascon and other key officials of the university. In the meeting, RD Baluyut said that one of the quick wins it is considering is an early partnership with the university through an innovation collaboration. She mentioned that the partnership involves the adoption of the academic researches of the university by MSMEs, thereby giving a commercial value to the studies made on products that can be sold in the market. She further stated that DTI-3 is planning to gather MSMEs not only in Bulacan, but also in the seven provinces of Central Luzon, to present the useful researches of academic institutions in the region. She also said that the Bulacan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) will support the partnership as it has before. The industry-academe-government collaboration will surely produce innovative products that will benefit MSMEs.
BulSU President Cecilia Navasero-Gascon expressed her appreciation of the continuing partnership with DTI-3. She mentioned that the university has always been a partner of the DTI in its Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI) project. She also cited possible food products that can be commercialized out of the researches made by BulSU. Among these are dried tea, powderized egg and ternate.
In 2021, DTI also partnered with BulSU and other organizations like the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Angeles University Foundation (AUF) and the Bulacan Chamber of Commerce in launching the Technology Hive of Regional Innovation for a Vibrant Ecosystem or THRIVE Central Luzon. This will be the brand for the Regional Inclusive Innovation Center that will put together the resources and expertise of the academe, government programs and the experience of businessmen members of the chambers.
