Leave a Nest Philippines Joins DOST and Ecosystem Partners to Strengthen Nationwide Innovation Support through iHubs

ILOILO CITY, Philippines – Leave a Nest Philippines formalized a partnership with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), along with the other ecosystem partners Wadhwani Foundation Philippines, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), DEVCONNECT Philippines, Inc. (DEVCON Philippines), and the Game Developers Association of the Philippines (GDAP) through a Memorandum of Understanding signed in Iloilo City. The partnership aims to strengthen DOST’s network of Innovation Hubs, or iHubs, by connecting entrepreneurs and researchers with mentorship, technical expertise, industry networks, and market opportunities. For Leave a Nest, this collaboration offers more opportunities to reach researchers and entrepreneurs across the country, bring its expertise in Science Bridge Communication to regional communities, and connect local innovators with one another and with its international network to advance solutions that address societal challenges.

These iHubs will become accessible spaces where startups, students, researchers, MSMEs, developers, and technology-based enterprises will gain access to the guidance, mentorship, and connections needed to turn early ideas into viable, market-ready solutions. For Leave a Nest, the iHubs may serve as local venues for its programs such as the TECH PLANTER program, as well as become platforms for sustained engagement with regional innovations. By connecting the regional and provincial innovation communities with various expertise, this partnership aims to make startup support more inclusive and responsive to local needs.

The ceremonial signing was attended by DOST Undersecretary for Regional Operations Engr. Sancho A. Mabborang; Leave a Nest Philippines Managing Director Engr. Ronezza R. Delos Santos; PCCI Western Visayas Governor Engr. Fulbert C. Woo; Wadhwani Foundation Philippines Country Director and Country Lead Lucrecio D. Delgado Jr.; DEVCON Philippines Executive Director Dominique De Leon; and GDAP Vice President John Jester Tesoro. Together with Engr. Delos Santos, Mr. Ronrick Arayata, one of the Leave a Nest Philippines Directors, was also present during the ceremonial signing together with other officials and representatives of the participating organizations.

The MOU signing formed part of the National-Level Capacity-Building Activity for Regional and Provincial iHub Focal Persons, held from July 8 to 10, 2026, at Diversion 21 Hotel in Iloilo City.

Under this partnership, each institution will bring their distinct strengths to the table. DOST will provide national direction and coordination; Wadhwani Foundation Philippines will advance entrepreneurship learning and startup readiness; PCCI will open connections to mentors, customers, industry partners, and markets; DEVCON Philippines will strengthen developer engagement, digital talent, and product development; and GDAP will expand opportunities in game development, interactive media, immersive technologies, and other creative-technology fields.

Leave a Nest Philippines will bring its expertise in science bridge communication, deep-technology entrepreneurship, researcher networks, and startup development to the partnership. Planned activities already include bringing TECH PLANTER to regional iHubs to support emerging researchers and startups, as well as sharing insights with DOST through projects that draw on Leave a Nest’s platforms in Japan and other countries to strengthen innovation support suited to local needs. Through its knowledge based platforms and regional network, the company will help researchers and science-driven entrepreneurs communicate their innovative technologies, validate their ideas, build strategic partnerships, and move impactful solutions toward commercialization to solve various issues in society.

In his message, DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. emphasized that the partnership reflects the department’s commitment to strengthening institutions, encouraging innovation-driven collaborations, and ensuring that science, technology, and innovation contribute to an inclusive and sustainable development throughout the country.

During the program, Engr. Delos Santos shared some collaborative success stories with Philippine startups that Leave a Nest invested in and supported, such as Anihan Technologies and Wela Online Corporation (now Livro Systems Inc.). She expressed the excitement to create more collaborations with other Philippine startups and relevant local and international stakeholders through the DOST iHubs. 

As the partnership moves into action, the iHubs will open new pathways for ideas emerging from communities across the Philippines. In the years ahead, Leave a Nest Philippines and its partners aim to help more Filipino researchers and founders establish incorporated deep-tech startups, attract investment, and grow into globally competitive companies that address societal challenges. By actively advocating technopreneurship, Leave a Nest Philippines and its partners aim to empower university researchers and academics to bridge the gap between research and commercialization. For Leave a Nest, the long-term ambition is to support these ventures and academic innovators from research and early development, through commercialization and international expansion, with the goal of helping promising startups progress toward initial public offerings (IPOs). This MOU marks a starting point toward that future, where the next Filipino deep-tech company to reach global markets could emerge from any region of the country.