Held in September 2025, the week-long program marked a historic milestone for UNLEASH in the Philippines. It also formed part of the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Leaders in Innovation Fellowships (LIF) Launchpad, linking local talents to a global network of innovators and change-makers.
A Global Innovation Methodology Brought to the Philippines
UNLEASH, an international platform known for nurturing sustainable solutions to global issues, brought its Innovation Methodology to the country. Previously deployed in Denmark, Singapore, China, India, Greenland, Rwanda, and Brazil, this structured design-thinking process guided participants from problem framing to ideation, prototyping, and pitching — all within just one week.
The Philippine edition featured 14 trained facilitators from eight nationalities, ensuring that participants were not only guided by technical expertise but also enriched by diverse perspectives.
“Technology on its own isn’t enough to solve big problems,” emphasized Jackie Stenson, Managing Director of UNLEASH. “You have to understand and serve the whole system: the people, the communities, and the structures around it. That’s what we encourage at UNLEASH — creating solutions that can truly reach users and deliver real-world impact.”
Representing the Whole Nation
The 150 innovators hailed from all 17 regions of the Philippines, representing both urban centers and remote rural communities. This diverse composition ensured that proposed solutions were deeply rooted in local realities while remaining aligned with national development priorities and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Participants worked across three thematic tracks:
Health Equity & Biomedical Innovation – addressing gaps in access to healthcare and new biomedical tools.
Resilient Agriculture & Food Systems – tackling food security and climate-related challenges in farming.
Sustainable Cities & Communities through Engineering Innovation – exploring solutions for infrastructure, mobility, and urban resilience.
By the end of the week, teams had developed 34 early-stage solutions, all of which will move forward to further refinement and prototyping.
Building More Than Solutions — Building a Community
Beyond the prototypes, UNLEASH Philippines created a vibrant community of leaders and innovators. Engineers, scientists, healthcare professionals, community representatives, and creatives collaborated in ways that transcended disciplines, building lasting connections that will extend beyond the Innovation Lab.
The program was hosted by UST through its TOMASInno Center Technology Business Incubator, underscoring the university’s commitment to supporting innovation and entrepreneurship. By bringing together individuals from varied backgrounds — whether students, researchers, or seasoned professionals — UNLEASH created a level playing fieldwhere everyone had equal access to mentorship, tools, and resources.
From Local to Global Impact
UNLEASH Philippines 2025 reinforced the belief that Filipino innovators are not only idea generators but also solution builders. With the right frameworks, mentorship, and global exposure, their projects can scale to serve both local communities and international markets.
As the participants continue refining their prototypes, they now carry with them more than just solutions — they carry the collective mission of making a measurable impact on society. With UNLEASH’s global network behind them, these Filipino innovators are poised to shape a better future for the Philippines and contribute to solving global challenges.
.png)
/>
.png)
No comments:
Post a Comment