Filipino inventors are now bonding together to become entrepreneurs.
Francisco ‘Popoy’ Pagayon, president and chief executive of Filipino Inventors Society Producers Cooperative, says inventors need to unify and promote their products to reach a larger market, as what entrepreneurs do.
“We want to train our inventors to become inventrepreneurs,” says Pagayon.
“FISPC pushes for the development and evolution of the striving Filipino inventor into an industrial entrepreneur,” he says, referring to the theme of the 23rd celebration of National Inventors Week this month.
Pagayon, who is credited for ‘Probaton’, a truncheon which has armed more than 150,000 policemen and village watchmen across the country, says Filipino inventors will gather for a grand fellowship night and banquet celebration on Nov. 22 at 55 Events Place along Scout Ralios in Quezon City.
“What we aim for this year’s celebration is to promote camaraderie and unification among inventors nationwide. We would like to achieve a unity in purpose and pursue a common goal for our country,” he says.
He says by helping one another, inventreprenuers will see more of their products reach the mass market, which is crucial if they are to become successful. “We want our inventions to reach not only Metro Manila, but also all regions of the country,” he says.
Pagayon says FISPC was formed four years ago as a cooperative to provide a venue for entrepreneurs where they could meet and showcase their products.
“Before FISPC was established, Filipino inventors could only showcase their products during exhibits organized by the Department of Trade Industry or Department of Science and Technology. Now, we have a place we can call home,” he says.
FISPC has a showroom and business center at Delta Building along Quezon Ave. corner West Ave. in Quezon City. “This venue showcases Filipino inventions,” he says.
Pagayon says as a cooperative, FISPC is composed of inventors and entrepreneurs who can use the showroom to showcase their products.
“It is where inventions meet entrepreneurship. We bring together inventors and entrepreneurs so that they can learn from each other,” he says.
Pagayon says entrepreneurs can also be considered inventors, especially if they introduce new products in the market. “We can help them get intellectual property rights or patent for their products,” he says.
He says the Cooperative Development Authority tapped FISPC to be in charge of information dissemination and campaign awareness on issues related to cooperativism.
The DOST, he says, also intends to team up with FISPC to promote OneStore, which puts on display the latest Filipino inventions.
“This is a timely theme for the celebration of National Inventors Week this month,” he says.
Pagayon says FISPC will continue to support inventors in their search for solutions to everyday needs of Filipinos.
“Our main intention is to develop more technologies and product that are even superior to those coming from other countries,” he says.
FISPC members are credited for a number of innovations, backed with patent. Among the group’s recent innovations are cannon-type electric firecracker; Probiotic for poultry and livestock; traffic cone overland emergency device, a multi-purpose road safety and trouble aid for motor vehicles; and D&G Black Seed Soap, which is made from blackseed oil and powder.
“We hope to encourage and support more inventrepreneurs,” Pagayon says.