The Department of Trade and Industry – Bohol Province held the first Bohol Idea to Contextualized Innovation (BHLi2i) Competition held at the Bohol Cultural Center last October 5-6, 2015. Ten (10) out of the thirty two (32) teams who registered were selected to proceed to the 2nd phase of the competition.
The participants, organizers and guests at the first Bohol Ideas to Contextualized Innovation Boot Camp.
These teams represent the different schools, colleges and universities in the province. The following ideas that qualified for the 2nd phase (prototyping stage) are: Bus Monitoring System (BMS), Bantay Palay “Grain Saver”, ACCRE, eGO, Heat Laptop Charger, e-Gen Light, PleteE, Drainage Inspection Machine (DIM), Rapid Testing Device (RTD), and Cocobot.
In the next stage, DTI will support the teams in the development of their ideas into actual prototypes using the facilities of the Bohol Fabrication Laboratory (FabLab), the first of its kind in the country. This will start on the 3rd week of October until the last week of November. Teams will learn 3D or 2D data preparation and undergo training on the use of digital fabrication equipment available at the Bohol FabLab such as the 3D Printer, Laser Cutter, Large and Small Format CNC Milling Machines, media printers and embroidery machine.
Prior to the pitching of ideas, all 150 individual participants were fortunate enough to be assisted by different mentors during the ideation process. Mentors included Carlo Calimon (CEO of MobKard); Dave del Rosario of Ideaspace Foundation; Prim Paypon of Dream Project PH; Andy Rapista (Founder of Watson Institute Philippines), Raphael Mijeno of SALT; and Artie Lopez (BrainSparks Philippines).
All prototypes developed will again undergo selection process in November. Qualified teams will proceed to the next phase, the co creation stage, wherein teams will have the chance to work on their prototypes with Japanese counterparts.
The BHL i2i Competition, the first of its kind in the province, is a program that promotes innovation and start-ups through digital fabrication. It aims to support the participants in developing technology-based solutions to local problems. This competition is organized by the Department of Trade and Industry – Bohol together with its local partners: Bohol ICT Council, Provincial Government of Bohol, City Government of Tagbilaran, Bohol Island State University and the Japan Internation Cooperation Agency.