From improving math learning to promoting sustainable sanitation and protecting agricultural livelihoods, young Filipino innovators from the Davao Region are showing how Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) can inspire ideas that change lives and communities.
The winning Team ALLYMath during the STTP pitching competition.
After months of mentorship, collaboration, and hands-on learning, twelve DOST scholar-led teams from the Region completed the 2025 Scholars Technopreneurship Training Program (STTP) and presented their concept innovations during the program’s Demo Day. The event marked the culmination of their six-month training journey under the Department of Science and Technology – Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI), in partnership with DOST Davao and Leave a Nest Philippines.
The STTP aims to nurture the entrepreneurial mindset of DOST scholars, guiding them to transform research-based ideas into potential solutions for real-world problems. While the projects are still at the conceptual stage, they represent early steps toward a future where young scientists and innovators can create technologies that address community challenges.
According to DOST Davao Regional Director Anthony C. Sales, the program highlights the importance of investing in youth-led innovation as a driver of national development.
“These ideas show what is possible when we combine curiosity, science, and compassion for the community,” said Director Sales.
“Even at the concept stage, our scholars are already thinking about how technology can improve lives, and that is exactly the kind of mindset DOST seeks to cultivate.”
ALLYMath: Making Math Learning Engaging and Accessible
Taking the top spot was ALLYMath, a conceptual design for a mobile learning application that aims to make mathematics more interactive, personalized, and engaging for Filipino students.
Inspired by the continuing challenge of low math proficiency among learners, as reflected in global assessments such as Program for International Student Assessment, the team behind ALLYMath envisions an app that uses gamified lessons, adaptive learning, and localized content to help students understand math concepts more effectively.
The concept also includes dashboards for teachers and parents, allowing them to monitor learning progress and tailor support for students. Once developed, the app could help make learning more inclusive and data-driven, particularly in schools with limited access to traditional resources.
ecoKUBETA: Redefining Sanitation in Coastal Communities
The first runner-up, presented ecoKUBETA, a concept for a modular, compost-generating toilet system designed to improve sanitation in coastal communities.
The idea was inspired by the conditions in Barangay 23-C, Davao City, where many residents lack access to safe and hygienic toilets. ecoKUBETA proposes a sustainable design that converts human waste into compost without the need for running water or sewage systems. The system also emphasizes portability, privacy, and environmental protection.
If further developed and tested, ecoKUBETA could offer an alternative sanitation model for local governments and organizations working in resource-limited or disaster-prone communities.
TrichoMend+: Protecting the Banana Industry through Biotechnology
The second runner-up, Team TrichoMend+, conceptualized an innovative biotechnology solution to help farmers detect and control Panama disease, a fungal infection that continues to threaten the country’s banana plantations.
Their idea integrates two complementary components: Trichoderma Pellets, which release beneficial fungi to protect soil health, and a Panama Early Detection Device, designed to sense infection before symptoms appear using volatile organic compound (VOC) sensors.
Though still a concept, the team envisions that once developed, TrichoMend+ could help banana growers reduce losses, improve yields, and lessen dependence on chemical fungicides, contributing to more sustainable and resilient agriculture.
Empowering the Next Generation of Filipino Innovators
Through the STTP, DOST continues to invest in young talents who have the potential to lead in research, innovation, and entrepreneurship. The program encourages scholars to apply scientific thinking not only in laboratories but also in creating solutions for pressing community and national challenges.
The 2025 Scholars Technopreneurship Training Program is one of the many initiatives of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) aimed at providing science-based, innovative, and inclusive solutions across four strategic pillars: human well-being, wealth creation, wealth protection, and sustainability. These pillars embody the mantra OneDOST4U: Solutions and Opportunities for All. For more information, visit www.dost.gov.ph
