The Strategic and Collaborative Alliance for Leveraging Ecosystems of Startups – National Capital Region (SCALE NCR), a consortium established by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) of the Philippines, has launched key initiatives to drive innovation and accelerate startup growth in Metro Manila.
As part of its ongoing efforts, SCALE NCR has introduced the NCR Local Government Unit (LGU) Mapping initiative, SCALE NCR said in a statement on Wednesday.
Led by De La Salle Animo Labs, this initiative aims to map out 17 cities across the NCR to identify opportunities for collaboration and support for startups, guiding the creation of a five-year Startup Development Roadmap for the region.
The project aligns with the DOST’s Regional Startup Enablers for Ecosystem Development (ReSEED) Program, designed to strengthen the regions’ startup ecosystems.
“The startup ecosystem development is a testament to our commitment to bolstering the entrepreneurial spirit and driving innovation across Metro Manila and the Philippines,
“By empowering more startups to take root and flourish, we aim to create a ripple effect that will inspire a new wave of innovation and strengthen our economy,” said Russell Pili, Chief Science Research Specialist, DOST-PCIEERD.
According to the statement, the mapping plan will focus on identifying key elements such as community culture, programs, and enablers within educational institutions, as well as the number of startups in each LGU.
It will also examine non-educational enablers like incubators and accelerators, along with LGU-promoted programs and their outcomes.
“The Philippine startup ecosystem is poised to take off, with the digital economy valued at $6.45 billion in 2023 and projected to reach $35 billion within the next two years,” QBO Innovation Executive Director Jay Fajardo said.
According to him, this rapid expansion underscores the immense potential of the region’s innovation landscape.
“We are committed to supporting initiatives by SCALE NCR to further accelerate this momentum by creating a more interconnected and supportive environment for startups,” he added.
Through the initiative, SCALE NCR also aims to improve Metro Manila’s standing in the global startup ecosystem ranking.
It is noted that the Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2024 (GSER 2024), an annual report on technology startups, ranks Manila 81st-90th in the Emerging Startup Ecosystem group ranking.
SCALE NCR is a member of the TBI Consortium facilitated by the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD).
It is founded by prominent NCR-based TBIs, including QBO Innovation, Animo Labs, Miriam College Technology Business Incubator, Adamson University-AduNest, Mapua University-Think & Thinker Laboratory, University of Sto. Tomas-TomasInno Center, University of the Philippines Diliman-UPSCALE Innovation Hub, and Technological Institute of the Philippines-NITRO.
Aligned with its commitment to nurturing startups in Metro Manila and beyond, SCALE NCR has also announced the development of the Startup Institute.
This platform is designed to enhance the innovation ecosystem for industry and enterprise development, grow the pool of early-stage investible startups in the Philippines, and empower TBIs and entrepreneur-support organizations in their ability to accelerate the growth of startups and research and development (R&D) project teams.
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