The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Development (OVCRD) launched last Feb. 24 its newest initiative, the Enterprise Program for Technopreneurship (EPT), a “boot-camp” for those who want to start a new technology-based business.
The EPT is aimed at several sectors, primarily industry professionals looking for a new venture, industries looking for joint ventures to address new technologies and markets, researchers, graduates and students with exciting technology products/services.
The EPT aids them in building essential skills in starting and running their business, developing a solid team and business plan, testing and validating their target markets and networking with potential investors, partners and clients.
The EPT conducts mentoring sessions to produce more technology startups, spin-offs and joint ventures between academe and industry as well as act as a feeder to the three business incubators currently housed within UPD.
Resource persons such as mentors and advisers from within the industry participate in the sessions. The program also has network partners enable enrollees build their network of contacts to help them start.
The mentoring sessions, lasting four months for each team, will cover various topics, such as technology development and innovation, business planning/development, market research, negotiation and sales, equity distribution and financing, corporate etiquette and business presentation and Intellectual Property management.
Facilities such as office spaces, workstations, fax machines and a fast Internet connection are available to enrollees and are located at the National Engineering Center between the College of Engineering (CoE) building and the Law Complex. The first program is slated to begin March 2010.
Among its network partners are the Philippine Emerging Startups Open, The UP Institute of Small Scale Industries, the Ayala Foundation, the Department of Science and Technology through its Open Technology Business Incubator, the Intellectual Property Office Philippines and the Microsoft Innovation Center.
According to College of Engineering Dean Rowena Cristina Guevara, this is also a way to help the graduates of their Engineering Research and Development for Technology (ERDT) program turn their pioneering researches into profitable business ventures.
For more information on the EPT, visit their home page at http://www.enterprise.upd.edu.ph/