Cebu's "Silicon Valley" bid viable

CEBU, Philippines - If given utmost support from both private and public sectors, Cebu’s bid on becoming the next “Silicon Valley” is highly attainable especially that it has already started with the establishment of an IT incubation facility.

Incubation facility expert Barbara Harley said that she sees Cebu’s potential to make it as the hatching ground for brilliant technological innovation, and techno-preneurship if given serious attention.

She said although the Philippines is on the very early stage in the IT “incubation” initiative, it is seen to grow in the next few years, just like the successful “Silicon Valley” in San Jose, California in the United States.

Harley, who has been an incubation consultant for the past 30 years, and whose expertise gained respect from World Bank and the governments of China, Japan, and Korea, and other countries, said that she has seen the Philippines going through the growth path, just like Silicon Valley 20 years ago.

The Cebu Incubation Facility for techno-preneurship is a good start for the province to hit its goal as the next “Silicon Valley” with the presence of enthusiastic industry and academe support here.

Harley urged the management of Technology Business Incubator (TBI) operated by University of the Philippines Visayas Cebu College (UPVCC) in support with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to be more active in promoting the facility, to accelerate growth and acceptance among skilled IT professionals to go into commercial ventures, rather than settling for employment.

Although, the TBI in UPVCC is already supported by the DOST, Harley said it needs more support from other government agencies, especially in terms of funding requirements.

Some countries in European Union (EU) and China are putting huge budgets in developing incubation facilities, she said.

The TBI at the University of the Philippines Visayas Cebu College (UPVCC) provides both office space and services, where technology based start-ups can be nurtured and given knowledge and skills to succeed.

With TBI, Cebu is expected to hatch its own technology innovation product, making the province known in the global scene and push its bid becoming the “Silicon Valley” in Asia.

Although Cebu, still has a long way to go, in terms of fully developing the incubation-concept specifically for ICT, Harley is confident that it is following the right tract.

Harley bared the key to success in the development of effective incubation environment, which is a much closer relationship with vital organizations, like higher education institutions, research and development Institutes, local authorities (city government, utility districts), redevelopment agencies, business associations, corporations, technology-craft or manufacturing associations, banks, investor groups, national and international donor agencies.

“Business Incubators should be viewed as long term investments that fulfill a significant public and private purpose. They should be developed with business-like concepts. They can begin small but should be guided by a larger vision,” Harley concluded.