UP Cebu opens new fabrication facility

CEBU, Philippines — A facility dedicated for innovation, design, and sustainability has finally come to fruition with the launching of the Tatak Pinoy-University of the Philippines-Cebu’s Materials Innovation and Experimentation Center-(Matix) UP Cebu in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City yesterday.

UP chancellor Leo Malagar said that the launch of Matix UP Cebu opens the doors of imagination and possibilities.

"This is not just about new machines or shiny tools or a beautiful space, it’s about the people who will fill this space with bold ideas and brave experiments… It’s about the students who will sit here late at night, sketching a design that might one day change their community,” Malagar said.

The Department of Trade and Industry-7 has poured in ₱1.7 million in support of this project through the Tatak Pinoy Act.

The funding is meant for collaborations between academe, industry and government, workshops, and research findings.

“This Matix UP Cebu project aligns perfectly with the Tatak Pinoy Strategy– which champions Filipino creativity, resourcefulness and innovation. It reflects the true essence of Filipino ingenuity, as it not only stretches the boundaries of material science but also highlights the potential of our students in shaping global innovative solutions,” said DTI-7 assistant regional director Esperanza “Hope” Melgar during the launch.

The Tatak Pinoy Act, a law enacted in February 26, 2024 aims to foster development and uplift the lives of the Filipino people by enabling Philippine industries to enhance productivity and competitiveness, produce, and trade a diverse array of more complex and higher-quality products and services, move up to the global value chain, create high-paying jobs, ultimately increasing the country’s economic complexity and achieving a robust and vibrant Philippine economy.

Melgar sees Matix as an “embodiment of the Tatak Pinoy spirit “with the faculty, students and the industry working together to come up with solutions using materials we readily have on hand.

“We recognize your commitment to excellence, sustainability, and forward-thinking that is rooted in Filipino values. What you have achieved so far is a powerful reminder that innovation is not exclusive to the global giants, but is deeply engrained in our own culture, driving us toward solutions that benefit the environment, our economy, our world” she added.

Way before the Matix UP Cebu, DTI also supported the establishment of the FabLab in the said university. The Fablab empowers MSMEs, designers, and students by giving them access to cutting-edge digital fabrication tools.

“Now, Matix UP Cebu is here to take it even further --by focusing on the development of new, sustainable materials that will shape the future of industries-- from furniture and fashion to packaging and manufacturing,” Melgar said. (CEBU NEWS)