NEWS

The Office of Alumni Relations (OAR) was tapped by Tomasinno Center (TIC), the official technology business incubator of UST, to be its partners in Tiger Tank aired on TIC's Facebook page last March 23, 2021.

The Tiger Tank: The TomasInno Center Demo Day is one of the Research Fortnite segments of TIC under the research week organized by the Office of the Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation. In the program, the incubatee firms are given the floor to pitch their innovations to attract potential investors and sponsors. Each group was given a few minutes to present their products and ample time to answer questions from interested parties.

Guests and participants were welcomed by the TIC's Manager and Project Leader, Engr. Raymond A. Marquez. Present also in the event was the Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation, Academician Prof. Maribel G. Nonato, PhD, who gave her opening remarks. It was followed by a keynote speech of Mr. Ronster Baetiong, an alumnus of the College of Commerce, and currently the CEO and Founder of Podcast Network Asia, ChatbotPH, and Hustleshare.

Then, the seven innovations from the field of aquaculture, rehabilitation sciences, food technology, healthcare, tourism, and travel industry were presented.

Under tourism and travel industry, Faculty of Arts and Letters alumnus Nato Agbayani presented an app called Tourismo PH and explained its features, advocacies, and its thorough development amidst the pandemic.

There were two innovations under food technology. Engr. Alfrancis Urlanda, a Faculty of Engineering alumnus, introduced his group's new take on a coffee drink that is manufactured and process locally. The drink called Creme Coffea boasts itself in promoting the industry of Filipino coffee farmers.

Another Faculty of Engineering alumnus, Engr. Souichi Takahama, showed his group's Egg Vending Machine. The fully automated machine is equipped with a heating system dedicated to the native eggs or balut. The group believes that their innovation will help to increase the marketability and boost the industry of native eggs across the country.

In the field of rehabilitation science, Mr. Mark Angel Serra pitched a biomechanical tape called Go Pain Free. The innovation is used for physiotherapy that addresses the pain of people with musculoskeletal conditions.

AquaGenTech company exhibited an innovative diagnostic kit that provides a fast, simple and affordable method to detect a target pathogen in aquaculture. The technology was presented by Mr. Joseph Carlo Vergel, MSC, a professor at the College of Science and an alumnus from the UST Graduate School.

Due to the raging pandemic, incubatee firms were also inspired to innovate machines that will contribute to the country's healthcare system. EEnovatics introduced a standalone tool for contactless entry in establishments called Project B.E.A.T.R.I.C.E. The machine was present by Faculty of Engineering alumna, Ms. Pauline de Guzman. Moreover, Engr. Anthony Bautista, a professor from the Faculty of Engineering and an alumnus from the UST Graduate School, presented a multifunctional remote-controlled telepresence robot called the Logistic Indoor Service Assistant or LISA ROBOT. The robot will act as an alternative tool for medical frontliners to avoid long exposure with a patient.

After the pitching, incubatee firms were assigned to breakout rooms where interested investors and sponsors can have a private meeting with them for possible partnerships.

TIC also introduced the second batch of incubatees which consists of seven groups that have promising innovations for tourism, healthcare, food technology, education, architecture, rehabilitation engineering, and agriculture. Just like their predecessors, they would also undergo a series of training and webinars to guide them develop their innovations.

The program was closed with a short speech from OAR Director, Asst. Prof. Fredeswindo R. Medina, MACHs. He lauded the university's alumni who have shown their competence with their groundbreaking innovations to the Thomasian community and congratulated everyone who participated in the event.