MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered government agencies to boost financial and technical assistance for Filipino inventors, stressing their role in advancing innovation and national development.

Marcos issued the directive during the 2026 National Invention Contest and Exhibits (NICE) Awards held in Malacañang, where he recognized outstanding local innovations.

“As President, I do not accept that there should be an uncertain future for our inventors,” he said.

“They have world-changing ideas, and we must watch them. We cannot watch them wither on the vine due to lack of institutional support.”

The President said he has instructed the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and other agencies to expand support programs for inventors, particularly in research funding, intellectual property protection, and commercialization of technologies.

“This should help you transform your innovative ideas into startups and accelerate the adoption and commercialization of those inventions,” he added.

The NICE Awards, organized by the DOST’s Technology Application and Promotion Institute (DOST-TAPI), is anchored on Republic Act 7459 or the Inventors and Invention Incentives Act, which promotes Filipino innovation.

This year’s competition drew 764 entries nationwide, with 28 finalists selected.

Marcos highlighted several winning innovations, including a portable multi-grain seeder with fertilizer applicator for small-scale farmers, an on-site African swine fever detection system for livestock protection, and an AI-powered chick counting device for poultry management.

He said these technologies demonstrate how innovation can address real-world problems in agriculture and food security.

“These are precisely the kinds of innovations that we seek, ones that offer solutions to real-world challenges and improve the lives of our fellow Filipinos,” he said.

Under RA 7459, the government provides incentives, technical assistance, and market linkage to help inventors bring their ideas from concept to commercialization.

Marcos assured awardees that government support will continue beyond recognition.

“This is only the beginning… we remain committed to helping you navigate the path forward,” he said.