The Philippines Government Collaborates with Marikina City to Foster Innovation and Startups

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in collaboration with key officials from Marikina City’s 2nd District, has introduced the pilot programs and services of the Marikina Creative and Innovation Hub at the Center for Innovation and Technology for Enterprises (CITE) in Marikina City, the Philippines. 

During the launch event on December 4, 2023, the DTI revealed the Incubation, Development, and Entrepreneurial Assistance (IDEA) Program and the Accelerating Development, Valuation, and Corporate Entrepreneurship (ADVanCE) Program. Both initiatives are specifically tailored to push the creative sector.

Aligned with the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act (RA 11904) provisions, the Marikina Creative and Innovation Hub is a crucial and integrated resource center, serving as a nurturing environment for startups and businesses. 

DTI Undersecretary for Competitiveness and Innovation Group Rafaelita Aldaba emphasized the aim of a conducive atmosphere where the creative ideas of startups and MSMEs (micro, small, and medium enterprises) can thrive.

The launch event, presided over by Marikina City 2nd District Representative Congresswoman Sella Luz Quimbo, DTI Undersecretary Rafaelita Aldaba, and DTI Assistant Secretary Dominic Tolentino, Jr., brought together over a hundred stakeholders from both the creative and innovation sectors. 

The Marikina Creative and Innovation Hub, guided by the principles of RA 11904, aims to be an inclusive and comprehensive center that not only creates opportunities for collaboration, entrepreneurship, and innovation but also serves as a bridge between ambitious ideas and successful enterprises. Usec. Aldaba expressed, “This hub is for all, going beyond mere physical space to bridge the gap between ambition and achievement, turning vision into successful enterprises.”

The hub will feature exhibition spaces, government booths, market spaces, co-working spaces, and networking opportunities to boost creativity and innovation in the Philippines; a distinctive aspect of the hub is its “retail incubator” strategy, designed to showcase inventive products to a broader audience.

During the launch event, two key partners of the hub were introduced: Launchgarage Innovation Hub, responsible for implementing the IDEA and ADVanCE programs, and the Certeza and Technoearth joint venture, tasked with formulating the hub’s master plan to ensure its long-term sustainability. 

Although the hub is still in its construction phase, some pilot services, such as the IDEA and ADVanCE programs, will run concurrently with the development of the master plan, as highlighted by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). 

The DTI announced its plans to advance creative startups and MSMEs (micro, small, and medium enterprises), providing them with a supportive environment where their innovative ideas can thrive. 

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