Silliman University (SU) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-NegOr signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the turnover and unveiling of the Sinergy Fabrication Laboratory (Fab Lab), a shared service facility under the DTI program, on November 6 at the Dr. Mariano and Lina Lao Activity Center.
According to Dr. Mae Brigitt Bernadel Villordon, SU’s interim assistant vice president for Academic Affairs and concurrent dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Silliman University is the first private institution in the Negros Island Region (NIR) to receive a Fab Lab grant from DTI.
“Together with DTI, we foster an enabling environment for private sector development, strengthening the institutional capacity of our local government units to support entrepreneurship, and that the partnership between DTI and Silliman University reflects a shared commitment,” Villordon said in her welcome address.
Villordon noted the potential contributions of the facility and expressed hope that through the Sinergy Lab, new ideas will emerge, collaborative ventures will take form, and transformative projects will serve as a catalyst for sustainable economic development both in the school setting and in the communities.
“By integrating the Fab Lab into the university’s curriculum and community outreach programs, it serves as a hub for creative problem-solving and entrepreneurial growth in the region,” said Asst. Prof. Janice Antoniette Forster, manager of Sinergy TBI and Fab Lab, during the dedication service and blessing ceremony.
The Sinergy Fab Lab is equipped with up-to-date equipment including 3D printers, a laser printer and engraver, a printed circuit board (PCB) maker, a vacuum forming machine, a 3D desktop scanner, an embroidery machine, and a print-and-cut machine.
“The new facility is envisioned to be a dynamic innovation hub where creativity, collaboration, and entrepreneurship unite to transform ideas into impactful realities, thereby creating opportunities that uplift lives and drive societal advancement,” she added.
This P3.2 million project supported by the DTI Shared Service Facility (SSF) Program highlights DTI’s commitment to enhancing productivity, competitiveness, and market access for MSMEs.
