by Lemuel Clark P. Velasco, FAB LAB Mindanao Manager
With the Institute in full march to attain its research university status, collaboration with government agencies who prioritize research and innovation has been in the heart of MSU-IIT. Last August 3, 2018 during the second anniversary of FAB LAB Mindanao, MSU-IIT Chancellor Dr. Sukarno D. Tanggol signed another memorandum of agreement with the Department of Trade and Industry to upgrade the facilities of Mindanao’s first FAB LAB. In a Tech Breakfast attended by academic and industry partners, DTI represented by Lanao del Norte Provincial Director, Dr. Ruel Paclipan revealed the 3-Million support and thanked MSU-IIT for the two-year partnership with the Institute in being a shared service facility for product development assistance among micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). It can be remembered that in 2016, the Institute and DTI signed the first MOA for the 7-Million initial equipment of FAB LAB Mindanao all with the purpose of creating a technology access center and training provider on digital fabrication for MSMEs.
In 2017, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) granted a 1.2-Million institutional support for FAB LAB Mindanao through the provision of additional equipment that will assist the region’s science and technology researchers. During the Tech Breakfast, DOST Region 10 Director Alfonso P. Alamban along with Chancellor Tanggol unveiled Mindanao’s first openly accessible metal computer numerically controlled milling machine housed in a FAB LAB. Being an innovation center under the Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension, Dr. Jinky B. Bornales expressed her excitement on FAB LAB’s additional equipment and reiterated that these will be used significantly to achieve FAB LAB Mindanao’s vision of being an innovation system that transforms ideas for value creation and wealth generation. With both equipment and expertise, FAB LAB Mindanao will continue to play its role in MSU-IIT’s innovation ecosystem by being a hub where almost everyone can #makeAlmostAnything.