Thursday, April 10, 2008 Foundation supports college’s technology incubation project
THE foundation arm of the Ayala group has forged a partnership with the University of the Philippines Visayas Cebu College (UPVCC) to support the university’s information technology incubation project.
Launched during the first quarter of last year, UPVCC’s IT incubation project was the first in Cebu to be included in the Ayala Foundation Inc.’s Technology Business Incubator (TBI) program.
Prior to coming to Cebu, AFI has already partnered with the Asian Institute of Management (AIM-Ayala TBI) and University of the Philippines Science and Technology
Park (UP-Ayala TBI).
Guillermo Luz, executive vice president of the AFI, said foundation officials has been meeting UPVCC representatives since June last year to discuss the plan to build an “ecosystem for entrepreneurs” within the school’s facility.
They also chose UPVCC considering that the campus was recently awarded as a Center of Excellence in IT Education by the Commission on Higher Education.
Luz also expressed optimism in Cebu’s entrepreneurial spirit. He said Cebuanos are known to be good in certain businesses, like in the software-based developments.
The UPV Cebu-Ayala TBI benefits from the six years that AFI spent in improving the TBI model in UP-Diliman.
“It is now time to pass on whatever we learn,” Luz said.
TBIs offer a facility where startup entrepreneurs can run the operations of their businesses. Aside from the office space, which is available for lease, the TBIs are also expected to put together other factors that are important in operating a business, like coming up with business plans, how to go about the funding and marketing.
The different departments of the schools, through the faculty members, can help mentor the entrepreneur.
Dr. Enrique Avila, UPVCC dean of college, said the university would also like to be “nearer” to the industry and that this will encourage their faculty members to stay.
“This will also encourage our students to be abreast with (what’s happening in industry),” Avila added.
Aside from that, Avila believes that being the first TBI in Cebu will be good for the college and will enable it to become “a catalyst of change.”
The UPV Cebu-Ayala TBI will specialize in visual computing and biometrics. Right now, the facility is being run by the college’s Computer Science Department, under the management of Ralph Leviste.
Leviste, a professor of the Computer Science Department, said that anyone can rent a space available at the third floor of the Arts and Sciences Building with floor areas ranging from 17 square meters to 35 square meters. (DME)
