The Department of Science and Technology – Technology Application and Promotion Institute (DOST-TAPI) held the first leg of the Regional Invention Contest and Exhibits by Cluster (ClusteRICE) from August 19 to 20, 2025, at the Philippine Science High School Main Campus in Quezon City.
Why it Matters: ClusteRICE serves as the preliminary round of the National Invention Contest and Exhibits (NICE), a biennial competition highlighting Filipino inventors and researchers. It provides a platform for local innovators to present their work and move toward national recognition.
National Capital Region was the first cluster to compete, with 53 finalists across five categories. Winners from this round will advance to the 2026 NICE.
The qualifiers are as follows:
- Effectiveness and Safety of Herbal Cream Preparation DEMOLLUSCUM in Removing Molluscum Contagiosum Using Cashew Nut Oil Extract (Tuklas Award, Private-Funded) – NCR
- Multi-shell Neutron Spectrometer (Tuklas Award, Government) – NCR
- Electromagnetic Power Generating Device (Unlad Award) – NCR
- Car Charging and Battery Monitoring System (Banghay Award) – merged from Region X
- Compost Bin Composed of Container and Insulator (Likha Award, Private-Funded) – NCR
- Point-Of-Care African Swine Fever Virus Detection System (Likha Award, Government) – NCR
- Anti-Theft Electronic Wireless Cut-Off Engine Starting System: A Motorcycle Helmet Application (Sibol Award, College) – NCR
- Vest The Best (Sibol Award, High School) – NCR
The next ClusteRICE legs will be held in the following regions at these dates:
- Visayas: August 27–28, 2025
- South Luzon: October 1–2, 2025
- Mindanao: October 7–8, 2025
- North Luzon: October 14–15, 2025
ClusteRICE is organized by DOST-TAPI, the agency tasked with promoting technology commercialization and supporting Filipino innovators.
Do you think these homegrown inventions have what it takes to make it big on the national stage?
