MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday vowed to strengthen technical and financial support for Filipino inventors and innovators, reaffirming his commitment to advancing innovation in the country.
Speaking at the 2026 National Invention Contest and Exhibits (NICE) Awarding Ceremony in Malacañang, Marcos underscored the crucial role of innovation in driving growth and improvement in the lives of Filipinos, stressing that promising ideas should not only be developed but also reach the market to benefit the public.
"As President, I do not accept that there should be an uncertain future for our inventors. They have world-changing ideas, and we must watch them. We cannot watch them wither on the vine due to lack of institutional support," Marcos said.
"And this is why I have given instructions to the Department of Science and Technology and all other relevant government agencies to strengthen financial and technical support for our inventors," he added.
Through DOST-Technology Application and Promotion Institute (DOST-TAPI) programs and services, Marcos said that Filipino innovators now have better access to research and development grants, intellectual property protection, technology development, financing, commercialization, and pathways to global exposure.
He said these programs aimed to ensure that their innovations would “move forward to create a real and lasting impact.”
The NICE Awards is organized by the DOST-TAPI and is anchored on Republic Act (RA) 7459, or the Inventors and Invention Incentives Act, which promotes Filipino innovation.
For this year’s NICE competition, the President said 28 finalists advanced from 764 entries nationwide.
Winning inventions and innovations include a compact neutron radiation measuring device and an affordable herbal cream for treating viral skin conditions under the Tuklas Award for outstanding inventions; a multi-grain precision seeder with fertilizer applicator under the Banghay Award for industrial design; and an on-site African Swine Fever detection system under the Likha Award for creative research.
Another winning innovation was an AI-powered optical chick counting device under the Sibol Award for outstanding student creative research.
“These are precisely the kinds of innovations that we seek, ones that offer solutions to real-world challenges and improve the lives of our fellow Filipinos," Marcos said.
“Please rest assured, your government will always stand with you, ready to support you on your journey,” he added.
