- Philippines
- Visayas TECH PLANTER
ISAT U and DOST Western Visayas iHub Join as Co-Organizers of Visayas TECH PLANTER 2026
2026/10/09
Iloilo City, Philippines – Leave a Nest Philippines is proud to announce the Department of Science and Technology Western Visayas Innovation Hub (DOST Western Visayas iHub) and Iloilo Science and Technology University (ISAT U) through KAWADRA Technology Business Incubator (Kawarda TBI) as official Co-Organizers of Visayas TECH PLANTER 2026!
Now entering its third annual implementation, Visayas TECH PLANTER continues its mission of discovering and nurturing researchers, innovators, and deep tech startups across the Visayas. After bringing the program to Iloilo in 2024 and Cebu in 2025, Visayas TECH PLANTER returns to Iloilo City this year, strengthening its connections with local institutions that share the goal of building a sustainable regional science, technology, and innovation ecosystem.
Strengthening Regional Innovation with DOST Western Visayas iHub
The Innovation Hub is part of DOST’s efforts to strengthen regional innovation ecosystems by creating accessible spaces where innovators, researchers, startups, enablers, investors, and other stakeholders can connect and collaborate. Through the iHub initiative, innovators can gain access to an environment that supports the development of ideas, business development activities, networking, and connections with relevant science, technology, and innovation resources.
The participation of DOST Western Visayas iHub in Visayas TECH PLANTER 2026 brings an important government and regional innovation perspective to the program. By connecting the networks of Leave a Nest Philippines, DOST Western Visayas, and ISAT U, the collaboration aims to create stronger pathways for Visayas-based researchers and startups to move their technologies from research and early development toward societal implementation.
Returning to Iloilo with ISAT U
Joining DOST Western Visayas as Co-Organizer is the Iloilo Science and Technology University.
ISAT U has been an important collaborator of Leave a Nest Philippines in strengthening the deep tech and startup ecosystem in Western Visayas. The university served as the University Co-Organizer of the inaugural Visayas TECH PLANTER back in 2024, helping establish the first regional implementation of TECH PLANTER outside Japan.
The collaboration between Leave a Nest Philippines and ISAT U, however, goes beyond Visayas TECH PLANTER. Since 2021, the two organizations have worked together through initiatives supporting researchers and technology-based entrepreneurs. These collaborations have included TECH PLANTER in the Philippines, startup development activities with Kwadra Technology Business Incubator (Kwadra TBI), and the Hyper Interdisciplinary Conference 2025 Iloilo Forum, where ISAT U also served as Co-Organizer.
Through Kwadra TBI, ISAT U has continued to provide an environment where researchers and entrepreneurs can develop their technologies and explore pathways toward commercialization. Its continued involvement in Visayas TECH PLANTER reinforces the program’s aim of creating long-term support for deep tech innovators beyond Demo Day.
Bringing Visayas TECH PLANTER to the Western Visayas Regional Innovation Hub
This year’s Visayas TECH PLANTER Demo Day will be held at the Western Visayas Regional Innovation Hub (iHub), located at Iloilo Science and Technology University in Iloilo City.
More than simply serving as the event venue, the iHub represents the kind of environment that Visayas TECH PLANTER seeks to strengthen across the region: a space where researchers, entrepreneurs, government, academe, industry, and other innovation stakeholders can come together and form new connections.
Holding the Demo Day at the Western Visayas Regional Innovation Hub places participating teams within a space dedicated to supporting innovation and collaboration. It also provides an opportunity for researchers and startups from across the Visayas to connect with the wider Western Visayas innovation ecosystem as they explore the next steps for their technologies.
Through the Demo Day, Leave a Nest Philippines and its Co-Organizers hope that the iHub will become not only a venue for presenting technologies, but also a meeting point where new relationships, collaborations, and opportunities for technology development can begin.
Building a Stronger Deep Tech Ecosystem in the Visayas
Visayas TECH PLANTER was established with the recognition that developing deep technology ecosystems in an archipelagic country such as the Philippines requires strong participation from local stakeholders.
While Demo Day provides researchers and startups with an opportunity to present their technologies, TECH PLANTER goes beyond being a pitching competition. The program connects teams with mentors, universities, government institutions, corporations, investors, and other ecosystem partners that may help them overcome challenges in research and development, prototyping, commercialization, financing, and market implementation.
Through the support of ISAT U and DOST Western Visayas iHub, Visayas TECH PLANTER 2026 aims to further strengthen this localized support network and create opportunities for promising technologies emerging from across the Visayas.
Together, Leave a Nest Philippines, ISAT U, and DOST Western Visayas iHub look forward to discovering passionate researchers and entrepreneurs and building new collaborations that can bring science- and technology-based solutions closer to society.
Visayas TECH PLANTER 2026 Demo Day
Date: November 21, 2026 (Saturday)
Time: 12:30 PM – 6:00 PM
Venue: Western Visayas Regional Innovation Hub (iHub) Iloilo Science and Technology University, Iloilo City
Visayas TECH PLANTER 2026 will feature selected deep tech researchers and startups from across the Visayas, presenting technologies in fields including agriculture, food, marine science, biotechnology, healthcare, environmental sustainability, engineering, and other deep technology areas.
The program will continue beyond Demo Day by connecting participating teams with potential collaborators and providing opportunities for further research, business development, and technology implementation.
For more information about Visayas TECH PLANTER 2026, please visit the official TECH PLANTER website: https://techplanter.lne.st/philippines/visayas2026/
To learn more about ISAT U and DOST Western Visayas, please refer to the following link:
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