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By Mirielle Vacal
Manila, Philippines - Every invention begins the same way: with a problem someone refuses to ignore.
A farmer is looking for a better way to dry crops. A student is building a safer helmet. A researcher is trying to make technology more accessible.
Across the Philippines, these ideas exist. But for many innovators, the real challenge is not creating them; it’s moving them forward.
At Malacañang, that challenge, and its possibilities, took center stage as the country’s top innovators were recognized through the NICE 2026 Presidential Awards.
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By Heherson P. Valdez
“For many Filipino inventors, innovators, and researchers, the biggest challenge is not a lack of ideas but a lack of opportunities to bring them to life.”
On the opening day of the 2026 National Invention Contest and Exhibits (NICE), the Department of Science and Technology - Technology Application and Promotion Institute (DOST-TAPI) turned that challenge into a national platform, one that gives promising innovations the visibility, recognition, and support needed to move from concept to real-world impact.
From 764 entries screened and evaluated through the Regional Invention Contest and Exhibit by Cluster (ClusteRICE) 2025, only 28 national finalists advanced to NICE 2026, reflecting both the depth of Filipino ingenuity and the urgent need to help these ideas move beyond the drawing board.
Moving from regional to national competition, NICE serves as a national platform where innovations are recognized, linked to support systems, and positioned for wider adoption in communities, enterprises, and global markets. Read more here for the official list of 2025 ClusteRICE winners: DOST-TAPI Brings Reg’l Grassroots Innovators to the National Stage at NICE 2026.
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