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| Innovators from across the Philippines gathered at the University of Santo Tomas for the first-ever UNLEASH Regional Innovation Lab in the country. |
In September 2025, the University of Santo Tomas (UST) became a hub of creativity as 150 Filipino innovators converged for the inaugural UNLEASH Regional Innovation Lab in the Philippines. Part of the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Leaders in Innovation Fellowships (LIF) Launchpad, the program connected diverse talents to a global innovation ecosystem, equipping them to design solutions for pressing health, food, and infrastructure challenges.
Over seven days, participants used the UNLEASH Innovation Methodology—a proven design-thinking framework employed in labs worldwide—to progress from problem framing to ideation, prototyping, and pitching. Guided by 14 international facilitators, teams collaborated across disciplines to develop context-aware solutions that balance local needs with global priorities.
A Tapestry of Filipino Talent
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| Participants applied the UNLEASH Innovation Methodology, moving from problem framing to prototyping in just one week. |
Representing all 17 regions, including remote islands and rural towns, participants brought unique perspectives to the table. This geographic and professional diversity—encompassing engineers, scientists, students, and community leaders—ensured solutions were rooted in real-world realities. “Technology alone can’t solve big problems,” said Jackie Stenson, UNLEASH Managing Director. “We need to design for the whole system: people, communities, and structures. That’s how we create impact that lasts.”
Thematic Tracks Driving Change
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| Teams presented their ideas on health, food systems, and sustainable cities, aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals |
Teams focused on three critical areas aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals:
- Health Equity & Biomedical Innovation
- Resilient Agriculture & Food Systems
- Sustainable Cities & Communities through Engineering
By week’s end, 34 early-stage solutions emerged, ranging from affordable medical devices to climate-resilient farming techniques. These projects now move to the prototyping phase, where innovators will refine their ideas with ongoing support.
Building a Legacy of Collaboration
Beyond individual projects, the lab fostered a vibrant community of changemakers. Supported by UST’s TOMASInno Center, the program leveled the playing field, giving equal access to skills, mentorship, and networks to participants from all backgrounds. “Filipinos have the ideas and passion to drive change,” Stenson noted. “With structured support, they’re poised to create solutions that serve both local communities and the world.”
As part of the global UNLEASH network, these innovators join a movement of over 1,000 solvers working to address humanity’s greatest challenges—proving that local ingenuity, when empowered, can spark global impact.
