Thrive Central Luzon - BulSU OVPREI

EXECUTIVE SPONSORS

Cecilia S. Navasero-Gascon, PhD
University President

Teody C. San Adres, LPT, PhD
Executive Vice President

Project Planning / Development Lead

Erwin dR. Magsakay, REE, MSc.
Vice President for Research Development and Extension

Project Planning / Development CO-Leads

Allen N. Maroma, Ed. D
Director for Development and Innovation

Zedrick T. Farin, ME
Assistant Director for SPARKS Innovation & Entrepreneurship Centers

Al Justin S. Geronimo, MEE
Assistant Director for Cybernetics RDCs [Regional Development Centers]

PROJECT PLANNING / DEVELOPMENT TECHNICAL SUPPORT & COORDINATOR

John Wendel P. Mercado
Engineer 1 for Electronics and Control System Research Center

PROJECT
IMPLEMENTATION

Czherene Ayrand C. Manio
Project Development Officer for Strategic Connectivity for Alliance and Development Center

Ana Marie L. Pinlac
Project Development Officer for Social Innovation Program Development Center

The Technological Hive of Regional Innovation for a Vibrant Ecosystem

The Regional Inclusive Innovation Center in Region 3 (RIIC-3) was formally established on December 10, 2020, duly adopted by the Central Luzon Regional Development Council (RDC-3) as endorsed by its Sectoral Committee on Economic Development (SCED).

A DTI-DOST initiative supported by USAID-STRIDE, the RIICs is one of the cornerstones of the Inclusive Filipinnovation and Entrepreneurship Roadmap to strengthen the capacity for innovation to drive inclusive economic growth in the countryside. It is a mechanism to strengthen industry-academe innovation collaboration in the regions. It establishes a local network of innovation agents that acts to synergize government agencies, industries, universities, LGUs, startups, MSMEs, R&D laboratories, S&T parks, incubators, Fab Labs, investors, and other elements in the ecosystem, to harness the region’s innovation potential.

The RIIC also provides a venue for innovation to work as a tool to solve problems, whereby a multi-stakeholder approach can be a means to maximize existing capacities and strength of each player to fill in gaps and weaknesses of one another, allowing the RIIC to overcome problems that the region faces.

Dubbed as the Technological Hive of Regional Innovation for a Vibrant Ecosystem or THRIVE Central Luzon, the regional branding represents the innovation community built through the RIIC initiative. The branding was inspired by the need to revitalize the region amidst the pandemic. Aligned with the overall vision of the RIICs to promote convergence between government, industry, and academia, it aims to unlock and sustain competitive advantages for local businesses toward local economic development in the region.

KEY OFFICIALS of government agencies, educational institutions, and business groups in Central Luzon led the launch of the Regional Inclusive Innovation Center (RIIC). The event, held online on March 12, 2021, was capped by the virtual signing of a Memorandum of Understanding participated by its core group: DOST Region 3 (chair), DTI Region 3 (co-chair), and Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Region 3 as lead government agencies; Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI)-North Luzon and Bulacan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) as industry partners; and Bulacan State University (BulSU), Angeles University Foundation (AUF), and Tarlac Agricultural University (TAU) as core academe partners, with the technical support and assistance of the USAID STRIDE.

The core group is currently supported by seven higher education institutions (HEIs) across the region: Bataan Peninsula State University (BPSU), Central Luzon State University (CLSU), Don Honorio Ventura State University (DHVSU), Holy Angel University (HAU), Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology (NEUST), Pampanga State Agricultural University (PSAU), and Tarlac State University (TSU).