Saint Louis University (SLU), through the University Research and Innovation Center (UnRIC) and School of Engineering and Architecture (SEA), welcomed guests from National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for a “Mapping and Assessment of Government-Funded Innovation Infrastructure” site visit on 27 September 2024.
UNRIC Director, Richel L. Lamadrid, PhD; SLU SEA Dean, Engr. Jeffrey Des B. Binwag; and SLU SEA Associate Dean, Engr. Caroline M. Bautista initially welcomed the guests at Otto Hahn Building’s SLU Incubation Research, Innovation, and Business Center (SIRIB) before proceeding with the site visit at the Fabrication Laboratory (FabLab)-CAR located in the same building.
In attendance were guests from NEDA including Administration Head Joel Sanqui, Senior Economic Development Specialist Arthur Abes, Economic Development Specialist I Alvin Fernandez, Economic Development Specialist II Jerome Garcia, and Administrative Assistant III Jan Christine Pestaño. Joining the site visit were Denver Ngaseo, SSF Technical Staff from DTI Baguio-Benguet and Daniel Dulay, SSF Technical Assistant from DTI-CAR. UNDP visitors namely Rosstyn Fallorina, Head of Solutions Mapping, UNDP Accelerator Lab, and Elmerei Cuevas, Social Innovation Analyst, UNDP Accelerator Lab were also present.
In her introduction, Dr. Lamadrid stated that although the FabLab-CAR is housed at the Otto Hahn Building, it is not exclusive to the SEA Department, although those who utilize the facility are mainly SEA students.
During the site visit at the FabLab-CAR, Engr. Binwag and Engr. Bautista took the lead in discussing the equipment, like the Mini Epilog Laser Engraver, the Bigrep Studio, the Shopbot Desktop, and the Large Format Printers. They have stated how the usual outputs created by these equipment are scale models, trophies, and plaques. It was also mentioned that the Fabrication Laboratory can be utilized from Mondays to Saturdays. Aside from this, queries pertaining to the processes to access the equipment, the facility’s funding, and repair were addressed.
Dr. Lamadrid noted that while the SEA Department has the authority to deploy resources and utilize the Fabrication Laboratory-CAR, UnRIC is currently exploring innovation plans to make the facility accessible to the entire university. These plans will also help address the issue faced by MSMEs, who are either unaware of the Fabrication Lab’s existence or unsure of how to use its resources. With that, the utilization of the laboratory is a shared responsibility between UnRIC and the SEA Department.
With UnRIC and the SEA Department’s collective efforts to advance innovation and collaboration, SLU reaffirms its dedication not only to educational excellence but also to broader goals, such as fostering impactful partnerships and promoting accessibility. This is in alignment with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Quality Education (SDG 4), Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure (SDG 9), and Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17). (Article by Keziah Bethany M. Vestidas, UIO Intern | Photos by Andreanna Beatrix L. Martin, UIO Intern)
