THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Central Luzon and the Bulacan State University (BulSU) recently held a partnership meeting to boost the innovation initiatives of the agency to help micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the region.

On January 5, 2022, DTI-Central Luzon Director Leonila Baluyut met with BulSU president Cecilia Navasero-Gascon and other key officials of the university to discuss an early partnership with the university through an innovation collaboration.

She said the partnership involves the adoption of the academic researches of the university by MSMEs, which provides commercial value to the studies made on products that can be sold in the market.

She also stated that DTI-Central Luzon is planning to gather MSMEs not only in Bulacan, but also in the seven provinces of Central Luzon, to present the useful researches of academic institutions in the region.

She said the Bulacan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) will support the partnership as it has before.

The industry-academe-government collaboration will surely produce innovative products that will benefit MSMEs.

Navasero-Gascon expressed her appreciation of the continuing partnership with DTI-Central Luzon, saying it has always been a partner of the DTI in its Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI) project.

In 2021, DTI also partnered with BulSU and other organizations, like the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Commission on Higher Education (Ched), United States Agency for International Development (USAid), Angeles University Foundation (AUF) and the Bulacan Chamber of Commerce in launching the Technology Hive of Regional Innovation for a Vibrant Ecosystem or Thrive Central Luzon.

This will be the brand for the Regional Inclusive Innovation Center that will put together the resources and expertise of the academe, government programs and the experience of businessmen members of the chambers.