A UNIVERSITY in Angeles City, Pampanga has launched a start-up hub in support of the country's research and development programs.

The Holy Angel University launched Encephalon, its technology business incubator (TBI), during the "PamiHAUbe Abe: PH Startup Ecosystem - Beyond Expectations" program at the university's theater.

Some of Encephalon's incubatees include Papa.ph and Keybol Games.

The grand launching was attended by different government institutions, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), and corporations and universities in Pampanga.

In his speech, HAU president Luis Maria Calingo highlighted the vision of the university, which is to become a role model catalyst for countryside development, "one incubatee at a time."

Former senator Paulo Benigno "Bam" Aquino, principal author of the Innovative Startup Act, graced the launching and discussed the Philippine Startup Ecosystem.

Russell Pili, chief of the Research Innovation and Technology Transfer Division (RITTD) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD), was also present during the launching.

Pili has shared the vision of building the Philippine Startup Ecosystem and its #RoadTo1000Startups program.

Other speakers during the launching include Germaine Reyes, the chief executive officer of Synergy Market Research + Strategic Consultancy, shared that for a business to thrive in the Industry 4.0, "sustainability is the future."

Meanwhile, OrangeApps founder and CEO Gian Scottie Javelona discussed that the best way to boost the Philippine Startup Ecosystem is to transform a simple town into an innovation space which creates the best products and services coming from the Philippines to the world.

Lastly, Sustainable Alternative Lighting (SALt) creator and CEO Aisa Mijeno shared that her best learning during her startup years is that "you should invest in your people."

Edna Marriza Santos, HAU vice president for Institutional Effectiveness, showed the university's full support to researchers and innovators as they will be hand-held from conceptualization to commercialization.