"Fresh New Ideas"

"I get a lot of fresh ideas and these are very enriching."

This is one of the best things that I have learned from my recent interview with Mr. Federico "Dickie" Gonzales. As one of the leading personalities in the area of technopreneurship and innovation in the country, Dickie is someone who:

• * is very active in leading the annual Philippine Emerging Start-ups Open (PESO Challenge) as President/CEO,
• * is providing consultancy on the design of technopreneurship training programs, workshops and business plan competitions,
• * is a prolific mentor and advisor to technology start-ups,
• * is also active in the cultivation of entrepeneurship in the country as the Executive Director of the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship

He took up Mechanical Engineering at the De La Salle College and at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology through a grant by the Ayala Foundation. His 2-year MIT background gave Dickie the engineering and technology foundations for his current passion in technopreneurship.

Upon his return in 1972, he became founding chair of the IE Department, Dean of the Graduate School of Business and as EVP of the Professional Schools, all within the DLSU community.

Some of his recent collaborations and activities are:

• * Morphlabs' Morph Code - this is to help Filipino entrepreneurs and technologists bring their innovative Web 2.0 ideas to life,
• * Ayala Tech BootCamp - to address society's problems and opportunities by developing new and innovative technologies,
• * BusinessWorld - has a column called "Jumping the Curve"

With his love for sharing ideas, he is now involved with the following institutions:

• * DLSU - College of Computer Studies (on Technopreneurship)
• * UP - College of Computer Studies (on Technopreneurship)
• * Asian Institute of Management (on Innovation Management)

For Dickie, his contributions is to "excite people to bring out upfront their ideas." Like he wants to see the winners of the PESO Challenge to make it big in their respective markets and also assists those who are in need of mentoring.

Indeed, his experience and passion of bringing technopreneurship in our country to the next level is very valuable. Especially for those who aspire of making it big.

additional information: http://www.morphlabs.com/, http://www.ayalatbi.org/

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In Support for a Partner

As our way of supporting one of our Institutional Partners, the Philippine-Sino Center for Agricultural Technology (PhilSCAT) in particular, we would like to share with you that they will be having their 5th Anniversary tomorrow, March 25.

At their headquarters in CLSU campus, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, this year's celebration shall be graced by Agriculture Asst. Secretary Dr. Josyline Chio-Javelosa as the Guest of Honor.

This year's program highlights the awarding of Plaque of Recognition to PhilSCAT Director Dr. Romeo B. Gavino and his Chinese counterpart co-Director Mr. Cheng Liangji for their excellent and continuous services rendered to PhilSCAT and their contributions in alleviating the condition of Filipino farmers through research, development and extension activities on hybrid rice and agricultural mechanization technologies.

With the theme, "Paving the Way to a Modern Agriculture thru Mechanized Hybrid Rice Farming System", the opening ceremonies shall be composed of a morning Mass, a Motorcade, Field visit and a short program. During the opening program, 16 PhilSCAT staff who rendered 5 years or above of service to the project will also be accorded a Service Award.

In the afternoon, there will be a technical symposium where results of selected recent PhilSCAT R & D studies will be presented. This symposium aims to bring awareness to various PhilSCAT clientele the new undertakings of the Center including technologies developed and research studies completed.

A demonstration of PhilSCAT technologies at the Center's demo-farm such as the actual operation of the PhilSCAT Rice Combine where participants will be encouraged to personally operate the machine.

On the following day (March 26), there will be an Employees Day featuring sports festival among PhilSCAT staff. The celebration shall be capped by a retreat cum workshop which shall be held in San Fernando, La Union.

Overview of the Center

The Philippine-Sino Center for Agricultural Technology (PhilSCAT) is a special R and D agency under the Department of Agriculture. It implements the collaborative program in agriculture and related fields between the Philippines and the People's Republic of China, with Central Luzon State University (CLSU) as the lead implementor and the Bureau of Postharvest Research and Extension (BPRE), Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) and Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) as partners.

PhilSCAT's current technology scope under Phase I (2003-2008) is Hybrid Rice and Agri-mechanization.


reference:

Josue S. Falla, Ph.D, CESO V, Director II, BPRE, & Concurrent Chief, TPPD, Philippine-Sino Center for Agricultural Technology (PhilSCAT), Department of Agriculture CLSU, Munoz Science City 3120 Nueva Ecija, Philippines.

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