QUEZON CITY, (PIA) — Attention all senior high school, vocational, undergraduate, and graduate students aged 15 to 25 enrolled for SY 2024-2025 in the Philippines. Join Innovation Generation (InnoGen) 4.0 for a chance to receive a financial grant of P30,000 to bring your innovative projects to life.
PLDT and Smart partnered with the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on August 12, 2024, at the NCDA building in Quezon City. This agreement marks the start of Season 4 of Innovation Generation (InnoGen), a program committed to encouraging technology innovation and inclusivity.
This year’s InnoGen theme, “Innovation for All,” challenges young innovators to develop solutions that help persons with disabilities (PWDs) overcome daily challenges. The initiative also supports NCDA and its member agencies in advancing inclusive business programs.
NCDA Executive Director Glenda Relova expressed her gratitude to PLDT and Smart for choosing to focus on the disability sector in their initiative, highlighting the critical need for innovation to improve the welfare of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). Director Relova emphasized that the government cannot address these challenges alone, which is why they warmly welcome partnerships and initiatives from the private sector.
“One of the things that I would like to thank for is the thought of participation and inclusivity because PLDT and Smart can opt to choose other sectors but they opt to choose the disability sector,” she remarked.
InnoGen is PLDT and Smart’s grant initiative for young, tech-savvy Filipino innovators committed to making a difference in their communities. Since its launch in 2020, InnoGen has empowered young people to showcase their technological skills, drive innovation, and make a meaningful impact.
The Three Phases of InnoGen 4.0
- Phase 1 (Kilo 100): 100 teams will qualify to move forward.
- Phase 2 (Mega 50): 50 teams will advance, each receiving a PHP 10,000 connectivity grant. They will also gain access to lectures, workshops, and mentoring sessions to help them build their knowledge and understand stakeholders’ needs, enabling them to implement their projects effectively.
- Phase 3 (Giga 25): The top 25 projects will receive a financial grant of PHP 30,000 and additional support to further develop their innovations. During Demo Day, they can earn up to an additional PHP 30,000 by presenting their projects to a live panel for a Q&A session.
Special Awards:
- The Real MVP (Community Champion): PHP 50,000
- The Game Changer (Best Innovative Solution): PHP 30,000
- The Change Maker (Best Social Impact): PHP 30,000
How to Join?
1. All team members must be students (senior high school, vocational, undergraduate, or graduate), aged 15 to 25, and enrolled in the Philippines for the 2024-2025 school year.
Out-of-school youth can join InnoGen 4.0 through a school’s adopted community. They should coordinate with the school if they are interested.
2. Form a team of up to five (5) students and one (1) faculty member. Team members can be from any year level or discipline.
3. Create a 1-minute video introducing your team, explaining your project, and why you want to join the program.
4. Post your video on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube. After posting, complete the online registration form and include the video link.
Projects should be tech-based and incorporate information technology and the latest digital trends.
What are the requirements?
– Screenshot of a PLDT Home or Smart Giga Life App home screen or dashboard.
– Signed school certificate form from your school.
– Parental consent form for participants under 18.
All required forms are available through the online registration link: https://tinyurl.com/IGS4SignUp
The Technical Working Group (TWG) from NCDA, its member agencies, and representatives from PLDT and Smart will evaluate the entries.
Call for entries will start from August 12 to September 30, 2024. The announcement of the finalist or the Kilo 100 will be on October 25, 2024. (GLDG/PIA-NCR)
