Call for Proposals for the 2024 Innovation Grants

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), as Secretariat to the National Innovation Council (NIC), invites eligible government entities to submit proposals for innovation programs, activities, and projects (PAPs) to be funded under the 2024 Innovation Grants.

This initiative aims to promote innovation as a key driver of national development and economic growth, particularly in supporting marginalized communities and integrating micro, small, and medium enterprises in domestic and global supply chains as provided under Republic Act No. 11293, otherwise known as the Philippine Innovation Act.

Special Provision No. 5 under the FY 2024 General Appropriations Act appropriates PHP 100 million for the issuance of grants for innovation PAPs. NEDA and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) issued Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 2024-01, as confirmed by the NIC, to serve as the implementing guidelines for the utilization of the said fund.

Key Dates:

  • Opening of Proposal Submission: October 1, 2024
  • Deadline of Submission: Extended to November 8, 2024
  • Expected Commencement of Project: 1st Quarter of 2025

Proposals must be submitted via the Electronic Innovation Grants Information System (EIGIS) at https://eigis-innovation.neda.gov.ph.

Types of Proposals to be Funded

Applicants may combine elements from different types as they deem relevant.

1. Pre-commercialization, Commercialization, or Diffusion of Innovations

Proposals that focus on developing and refining innovative products, technologies, or services to prepare them for market readiness while minimizing risks before full-scale commercialization. This includes support for the commercial production and transfer of these innovations, as well as efforts to promote their adoption within target markets or communities.

For proposals under commercialization, implementing entities must identify a private enterprise or partner that commits to adopting, utilizing, or using the innovative product, service, or technology.

2. Innovation Facilities and Services

Proposals that focus on creating or improving physical spaces, resources, and support programs that promote innovation. These initiatives should aim to provide services for entrepreneurial activities, facilitating the successful transfer of innovative ideas across markets.

 

3. Innovation Culture Promotion and Capacity-Building

Proposals that aim to foster a culture of innovation and strengthen the innovation ecosystem. This includes educational programs, capacity-building activities, trade exhibits, expositions and missions, and other networking activities for collaborative partnerships.

4. Innovation Policy and Administration

Proposals that focus on developing and implementing innovation policy solutions, regulatory measures, digital information initiatives, and other public administration innovations. These projects should aim to enhance the efficiency, productivity, and quality of public services.

 

For details on the specific subtypes for each category, as well as the recommended expected outputs, please refer to Annex A: Types of Innovation Programs, Activities, and Projects of the NEDA-DBM JMC No. 2024-01.

 

Eligibility Requirements

Entities eligible for the submission of proposals are the following:

  1. National Government Agencies (NGAs), including their attached agencies, regional offices, and operating units;
  2. Local Government Units (LGUs), including Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs);
  3. State Universities and Colleges (SUCs); and
  4. Government-Owned and -Controlled Corporations (GOCCs).

Please refer to additional eligibility requirements in Section VI of the NEDA-DBM JMC No. 2024-01.

The designated Project Leader, duly authorized by their Head of Agency, is the only person authorized to create a user account and to encode and submit their proposal in EIGIS. In addition, he/she:

  1. Must be a Filipino citizen of legal age;
  2. Must hold a permanent or regular position and not due to retire during the period of implementation;
  3. Must not have been found guilty of administrative or criminal case, including those under appeal; and
  4. Must not be an agent of or related by consanguinity or affinity up to the fourth civil degree to NEDA officials and technical staff authorized to process and/or approve the proposal, Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), and process the release of funds.

The prescribed for the template of the Authorization Form to be signed by the Head of Agency may be accessed through this link: Authorization Form.

 

Application Process

Step 1: Creation of an EIGIS User Account 

  1. Download and complete the prescribed Authorization Form template with all necessary details. Only the designated Project Leader is authorized to create an EIGIS user account.
  2. Obtain approval from the Head of Agency.
  3. After securing the signed Authorization Form, register at EIGIS through this link https://eigis-innovation.neda.gov.ph/register using the same email and details provided in the form.
  4. If there are discrepancies between the data indicated in the signed form and the data encoded in the EIGIS Registration Page, approval will be deferred until the data is corrected.

Step 2: Drafting and Submission of Proposals

  1. Go to Create Proposal in EIGIS. Fill out all required information in Forms 1, 2 and 3.
  2. It is highly recommended to prepare and save a local file with all the data to be encoded in EIGIS. This will make encoding easier and help prevent data loss in case of technical issues. Editable local files of the forms can be accessed and downloaded through this link: Template of Application Forms.
  3. Ensure that all necessary and accurate information is provided on the Declaration and Undertaking pages.
  4. Click Save as Draft if you are not ready to submit yet.
  5. Ensure that you submit all filled-out forms and attach required documents on or before the deadline.
  6. Click Submit as Final to submit your proposal. A confirmation email will be sent upon receipt. Once the proposal is submitted as final, no further changes, revisions, or sending/ uploading of supporting documents will be allowed, even if the deadline has not yet passed.

Step 3: Tracking the Status of Proposal

  1. Go to Track in EIGIS user account for updates on the status of your proposal submission.
  2. All qualified proposals will undergo the evaluation process as outlined in Section IX, Item B, and Annex B of NEDA-DBM JMC No. 2024-01.
  3. Proponents of shortlisted proposals may be invited to discuss their proposals during the deliberation of the NIC Executive Technical Board.
  4. Official results will be sent to all email addresses indicated in the submitted Form 1.

For inquiries, you may reach us through https://eigis-innovation.neda.gov.ph/contactus or through (02) 8-631-0960 loc. 21611 or 21615.

For the complete guidelines, kindly refer to the NEDA-DBM JMC No. 2024-01.

 


Downloadable References:

  1. NEDA-DBM Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2024-01
  2. Annexes of the NEDA-DBM JMC No. 2024-01
  3. Authorization Form
  4. Form 1: Grant Application Form (Template)
  5. Form 2: Summary of Innovation PAPs (Template)
  6. Sample Form 1 and Form 2
  7. Form 3: Work and Financial Plan (Template)
  8. Presentation on the Call for Proposals for the 2024 Innovation Grants
  9. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)