A business process outsourcing (BPO) firm in the Philippines has recently partnered with 10 universities and academic institutions to help accelerate technology innovation in the country. Last Tuesday, the tech company handed over PHP80 million in grants to its academic partners to fund programmes focusing on emerging technologies, sustainability, and inclusion and diversity.
As per the company’s technology lead in the Philippines, Africa, and the Asia Pacific, the funding aims to help boost the local innovation system, particularly Filipino technology talents. “By supporting on-campus labs and incubators that are embarking on initiatives to accelerate the use of new technologies, develop more sustainable business practises, and foster a more inclusive culture in the technology field, we are helping to nurture the next generation of Filipino technologists that will solve complex business and social challenges in the future,” he said.
The partnership between the tech firm and Adamson University’s Technology Business Incubator for Neo-Environmental Science and Technology will include curriculum updates and start-up support for Industry X applications. The BPO firm will help finance the Innovate with Data programme at the Asian Institute of Management-Dado Banatao Incubator, which will develop a collaborative learning journey to transform local start-ups into data-driven companies.
By supporting on-campus labs and incubators that are embarking on initiatives to accelerate the use of new technologies, develop more sustainable business practices, and foster a more inclusive culture in the technology field, we are helping to nurture the next generation of Filipino technologists that will solve complex business and social challenges in the future.
Its collaboration with Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) entails curriculum intervention in order to establish data and analytics programmes at the tertiary education level. In addition, the company will work with Ateneo Blockchain Labs to launch programmes to scale healthcare start-ups using multi-party systems, as well as blockchain curriculum development and the development of government applications for multi-party systems with ADMU Loyola Schools.
The grant will also help the Ateneo Innovation Centre launch programmes focusing on 5G and Industry X technologies in industries such as energy, consumer goods and services, deep technology, resources, and healthcare. In addition, the technology firm and the FEU Institute of Technology will launch research and development programmes on the use of 5G and Industry X technologies.
Another 5G and Industry X technology programme will be carried out at the University of Santo Tomas–College of Information and Computing Sciences, with additional funding for a 5G and Internet of Things (IoT) Research Facility and an Industry Innovation Collaboration Space. The company and the UST DOST-TOMASInno Centre will also collaborate on a programme to develop healthcare solutions using IoT and robotics in regenerative medicine, among others. Another 5G and Industry X technology programme will be carried out at the University of Santo Tomas–College of Information and Computing Sciences, with additional funding for a 5G and Internet of Things (IoT) Research Facility and an Industry Innovation Collaboration Space. The company and the UST DOST-TOMASInno Center will also collaborate on a programme to develop healthcare solutions using IoT and robotics in regenerative medicine, among others.
With the assistance of the tech company, the Technological Institute of the Philippines-Nurture Innovation Technology Revolution Office will roll out post-graduate programme integration for Industry X applications. Engineering Research and Development Foundation Inc. programme at the University of the Philippines with the University of the Philippines Sustaining Collaboration in an Advanced Learning Environment, which the BPO firm will support, is the funding of start-ups and university-spin-off ventures in healthcare, retail, software and platforms, consumer goods and services, banking, and insurance.
Miriam College–MC Technology Business Incubator will also receive support for the incubation of second stage start-ups led by women and focused on Edutech, as well as additional funding for senior high and junior high school programmes to encourage female students to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines.
Furthermore, the company is collaborating with the De La Salle University-DLSU Animo Labs Foundation Inc. to develop cross-industry monitoring, tracking, and certification capabilities, as well as a platform for Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) in the Philippines and developing countries, and with the DLS-College of St. Benilde to launch a programme to develop enterprise, software development.
“This grant programme helps build the foundation on which our universities and academic institutions can further develop Filipino technology talent to look ahead to the future and solve pressing challenges using advanced technologies. With the accelerated pace of innovation today, we’re proud to help inspire and motivate our youth to take on this opportunity to learn, experiment and test ideas, and support them as they do it repeatedly,” said the innovation lead of the tech firm.
