DOST-SEI and partners invest in Young Filipino innovators through 6th imake.wemake

Innovators will see more support from big players in the field of science, technology, and innovation as the Department of Science and Technology – Science Education Institute signs Memorandum of Agreement with Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI), C&E Publishing, Inc. (CEPI), and Gokongwei Brothers Foundation (GBF) in the 6^th edition of the imake.wemake:create.innovate.collaborate competition.

The signing ceremony, held on March 13, 2023 at the Sequoia Hotel – Manila Bay, Parañaque City, kicks off this year’s series of events for the imake.wemake competition, which is making its in-person comeback after two years of virtual runs.

Through the partnership, 20 finalists of the imake.wemake competition will have the chance to receive the C&E Adaptive Learning Solutions (ALS) Innovation Award, the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation Young Scientist Award, and three (3) Youth Innovation Prize awards with Php 200,000.00 cash grant each courtesy of HCPI.

DOST-SEI Director Dr. Josette T. Biyo expressed her gratitude to the partners who are investing in young Filipino innovators.

“I believe that through our partnership, more doors of opportunities will be opened, and more young people will be primed to become scientists and innovators – creating and collaborating for a better future,” said Dr Biyo.

Honda Cars Philippines, Inc.’s Vice President, Atty. Louie Soriano, congratulated DOST-SEI for the continuous success of the imake.wemake competition and affirms its oneness with the advocacy of promoting science, technology, engineering and mathematics in the country.

Ms. Asela V. Javier, business development and product marketing senior manager of C&E Publishing, Inc., delivered the message of support and gratitude of CEPI’s Chief Operations Officer, Mr. John Emyl Eugenio.

Ms. Graciela E. Mendoza of the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation, who has been DOST-SEI’s partner in the competition since 2021 also graced the event and honored the young Filipino innovators’ role in forwarding innovation and boosting the country’s human resource capital in S&T.

After the signing ceremony, the top 20 school-teams from all-over the Philippines also began their first day in the 6^th imake.wemake Bootcamp: Interfacing with the Arduino Platform and Electronics.

This year’s run of the imake.wemake received a total of 89 project proposals from public and private high schools nationwide. It is the biggest number of proposals received since its debut in 2017.

The finalists for the 6^th imake.wemake are:

1. Alabel National Science High School – Regional Science High School for Region XII – “Project HAMOWG: Automated Atmospheric Potable Water Generator from Fog, Cool, and Warm Air”
2. Alaminos City National High School – “Automated Drying and Quality Controlling System for Rice Varieties”
3. Babag National High School – “CORNED: Communication Offline Response Network during Emergency Disasters”
4. Bansud National High School – Regional Science High School for MIMAROPA – “POXIFIER: An Assistive Medical Screening Device For Selected Skin Diseases Using Machine Learning Ensemble Embedded in a Mobile Application”
5. Cavite Science Integrated School – “ Project Kalinga: Geolocation Estimation of Forest Activities Using Triangulation and Sound Classification”
6. General Santos City National High School – “Barangay Automated Medicine Machine: A Solar-Powered Dispensing Device for Barangay Health Centers”
7. Iligan City National High School – “Pyre-Ranger: A Hybrid Eco-Friendly and Power-Sufficient Portable Incinerator for Personal Protective Gears and Plastics”
8. Jose Panganiban National High School – “TRITON: Underwater Drone for Detection and Removal of Crown-of-Thorns Starfish”
9. Kidapawan City National High School – “SAGIPMOKO: Emergency Search and Rescue Robot”
10. La Consolacion College Bacolod – “Project M.H.A.Y.A. (Maintenance and Harvest Automation using YOLO Algorithm): A Solar-powered Hydroponic Mushroom Farming Device”
11. Lala National High School – “Automated Calamansi Harvesting Robot”
12. Luis Palad Integrated High School – “Deep Learning ALPS: An Ensemble Model Device for the Detection of Rice Blast Disease (Magnaporthe oryzae) and Rice Field Soil Amendments with SMS Alert Reporting System”
13. Mamali National High School – “School-Based Four-Wheeled Cellphone Controlled Fire Fighting Robot”
14. Narvacan National Central High School – “Go, Grow, Glow: Green Tech Aquaponics”
15. Philippine Science High School – CALABARZON – “SAMGIOP: Development of an IoT-based Sensory Device for the Monitoring of Leaf Damage and Abiotic Factors in Cabbage (Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis) using Raspberry Pi”
16. Polangui General Comprehensive High School – “Prototype Arduino Programmed Agribot”
17. Tabalong National High School – “PROJECT APPRA or  Automatic Pick and Place Robotic Arm with the Combination of EV3 and Arduino”
18. Tanauan City Integrated High School – “Project HEXADS: Automated IoT-based Intelligent Capturing and Rearing Device for Endangered Sardinella tawilis (Herre, 1927) Conservation in Ex Situ Captivity”
19. University of Saint Louis – Tuguegarao – “Project FLAME: Flood Alert Monitoring & Eco-conscious Vessel Powered by Arduino System”
20. Vinzons Pilot High School – “E-quia: Remotely Operated Electrostatic Collector of Microplastics and Other Pollutants in Freshwater Environments”