The Department of Science and Technology’s Strategic and Collaborative Alliance for Leveraging Ecosystems of Startups – National Capital Region (SCALE NCR) has rolled out key initiatives aimed at driving innovation and accelerating startup growth in Metro Manila.
A significant development under this initiative is the NCR Local Government Unit (LGU) Mapping project, spearheaded by De La Salle Animo Labs.
This project will map 17 cities in the National Capital Region to identify opportunities for collaboration and support for startups. The findings from this initiative will contribute to the creation of a five-year Startup Development Roadmap for the region.
The LGU Mapping project is in line with DOST’s Regional Startup Enablers for Ecosystem Development (ReSEED) Program, which focuses on strengthening regional startup ecosystems.
The mapping process will target key elements, including community culture, programs within educational institutions, the number of startups per LGU, and non-educational enablers like incubators and accelerators.
It will also assess LGU-promoted programs and their impact.
SCALE NCR is also making efforts to improve Metro Manila’s position in the global startup ecosystem rankings, as the Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2024 currently places Manila in the 81st-90th bracket within the Emerging Startup Ecosystem category.
Furthering its commitment, SCALE NCR has announced the establishment of the Startup Institute, which aims to enhance the innovation ecosystem by supporting the development of early-stage startups and empowering technology business incubators (TBIs) and entrepreneur-support organizations.
The pilot training sessions are scheduled for September 20 and 23, 2024, in partnership with Colegio de Muntinlupa.
In addition, SCALE NCR will launch the NCR Investors Network, a platform designed to connect startups and projects seeking funding with potential investors.
This network will also focus on promoting startup investment education through workshops and seminars.
To further reinforce the startup ecosystem in Metro Manila, SCALE NCR will host the NCR TBI Summit on October 10 and 11, 2024.
The summit, themed “Urban Prosperity Unleashed: Catalyzing Dynamism of Startups and MSMEs in the Cities,” aims to facilitate collaboration and innovation among startups and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in urban areas.
SCALE NCR operates under the TBI Consortium, facilitated by the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD). The consortium includes several NCR-based TBIs such as QBO Innovation, Animo Labs, and others.
Business News Asia