Embodying its mantra, ‘Acculturizing Innovation,’ Quirino State University (QSU) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) officially formalized their partnership through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) Signing Ceremony held yesterday, January 20, at the Maddela Campus.
The collaboration signals the establishment of the province’s first Fabrication Laboratory (Fab Lab) at the University’s Maddela Campus. It is a strategic initiative designed to catalyze inclusive innovation, Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME) development, and overall regional competitiveness within Quirino Province.

The project is implemented under the “Scaling-Up Entrepreneurship, Education, Development and Agri-Tourism Through Fabrication Laboratory” (SEEDA Fab Lab) program, with an investment amounting to four million pesos. By aligning DTI’s mandate for industry development and entrepreneurship with the University’s expertise in research, extension, and technology generation, the partnership enables the Fab Lab to serve as a vital shared platform for product prototyping and capacity building. This facility is envisioned to function as a DTI-supported Shared Service Facility, providing essential resources to cooperatives and entrepreneurs across the province.

The ceremonial signing was led by Atty. Michael B. Paggabao, DTI Region 2 Acting Assistant Regional Director, and Dr. Hermenegildo F. Samoy Jr., University President. They were joined by Ms. Rowena F. Mayangat, DTI Quirino OIC Provincial Director; Dr. Eduard P. Alip, Campus Administrator of Maddela; and, Dr. Winston Domingo, SEEDA Fab Lab Project Leader.

The Fab Lab project is seen to play a vital role in bridging the gap between academic research and commercial viability, providing a dynamic environment for hands-on innovation, rapid prototyping, and the cultivation of specialized technical skills among Quirinian students, professionals, and aspiring entrepreneurs seeking to scale their businesses through modern technology.

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