THE Intellectual Property Office of the Ateneo de Manila University partnered with the Department of Science and Technology to launch the Ateneo Blue Nest–Technology Business Incubator project.

Ateneo Blue Nest–TBI is a platform that will incubate and develop ideas for start-ups and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, allowing them to access the resources they need to thrive and grow.

The project is under DOST’s Higher Education Institution Readiness for Innovation and Technopreneurship program, an initiative designed to help universities meet the requirements for funding from the DOST–Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development.

Through the project, managers are trained to run their own DOST-affiliated TBIs in order to cater to the growing demand for early-stage entrepreneurial support.

“Within these walls we envision a dynamic ecosystem that fosters creativity, collaboration, and a drive for innovation that will bring solutions to today’s pressing issues,” Ateneo President Fr. Roberto Yap SJ said.

“This is the promise of Ateneo Blue Nest–TBI. Today we celebrate the launch of this physical space and the birth of countless opportunities. In nurturing talent, igniting passion, and pushing boundaries, Ateneo Blue Nest–TBI hopes to be a bedrock of groundbreaking ideas and disruptive innovations that will improve the lives of individuals and communities in the Philippines and beyond,” he added.

Dr. Niñaliza Escorial, deputy executive director of the Council, said that Ateneo Blue Nest started with the noble objective [of] translating Ateneo’s research output “into tangible solutions that benefit society.”

“Today it is blossoming into something even more remarkable, a platform that fosters a culture of innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship within and beyond the university community,” Escorial said.

Engr. Benjamin Mirasol, project leader of the Ateneo Blue Nest Incubation Program, said that entrepreneurs will find “the support they need, the network they crave for, and the resources needed to transform ideas to reality.”

“Our incubation space has been thoughtfully crafted to provide the perfect ecosystem for innovation. As the space continues to grow, more state-of-art and cutting-edge technologies and features will be implemented,” Mirasol said.