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JANUARY 20, 2025 – The first Filipinnovation Awards or the National and Regional Innovation Awards and Competitions is now open for applications, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) announced today (January 20).

Launched in 2024, the awards will showcase Filipino creativity, highlight innovative solutions to early-stage commercialization, and foster transformative contributions to national development.

The deadline for applications is on March 20, 2025. To qualify for the competition, participants should meet the following criteria:

  • Must be Filipino citizens or Filipino-owned enterprises;
  • Must be innovators in the early stages of commercialization;
  • Must be registered with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) or the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC); and
  • Must have Certificate of Intellectual Property (IP) Registration or Proof of Ongoing IP Application

The Filipinnovation Awards will feature a two-stage competition to ensure regional representation. The sub-national level will divide participants into four geographic clusters—NCR, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao—providing a platform for local innovators to address community-specific challenges. Meanwhile, the national level will bring together the top 15 finalists from these clusters to compete for national recognition.

This year’s competition focuses on three key themes: Learning and Education, Health and Well-being, and Food and Agribusiness. Five winners will be selected to receive grants, mentorship, national recognition, participation in international events, and access to investment opportunities to scale their innovations.

Underscoring the importance of the awards, NEDA Secretary and National Innovation Council (NIC) Vice Chairperson Arsenio M. Balisacan emphasized that the 2025 Filipinnovation Awards will serve as a platform to celebrate Filipino creativity and empower “Filipinnovators” to deliver solutions that address pressing national challenges.

“This initiative aligns with the government’s drive to foster innovation-driven economic growth and ensure that promising Filipino talent produces meaningful and impactful innovations for the country and society more broadly,” said Balisacan.

NEDA serves as the Secretariat of the NIC. More information on the Filipinnovation Awards, including eligibility and the application process, can be found at https://filipinnovation.neda.gov.ph/ or  https://www.facebook.com/NICfilipinnovation.

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