USM Receives Recognition from CDA Region XII
October 24, 2025
SINGAPORE — Student delegates from the University of Southern Mindanao (USM) embarked on an educational and innovation immersion journey in Singapore from October 20 to 25, 2025. Initiated under the leadership of Governor Emmylou “Lala” J. Taliño-Mendoza and Vice Governor Rochella Marie “Ella” Taliño Taray of the Provincial Government of Cotabato, the program aimed to expose young leaders and researchers to international practices in entrepreneurship, technology, and applied sciences.
The second day of the immersion, October 21, 2025, USM delegates visited BLOCK71 Singapore, a leading innovation and startup ecosystem established in 2011 through a partnership between NUS Enterprise, Singtel Innov8, and the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA). With its mission to “build a space where game-changers can meet, build, and scale,” BLOCK71 has become a vibrant hub for startups in Asia.
During the visit, the delegates toured facilities including PIER71 Maritime Innovation, CyberSG TIG (Cyber Security), Hydroleap, Pollinate, and ACE (Action Community for Entrepreneurship). These incubators and accelerators play key roles in connecting startups with investors, providing resources, and supporting the scaling of innovations.
The day featured two workshops led by Mr. Andy Wee, Principal Consultant of BluC 53. The first, “Innovation and Singapore Startup and Enterprise Ecosystem,” provided an overview of Singapore’s entrepreneurial landscape and how research and innovation are transformed into successful startups. The second, “Incubators, Accelerators, Start-Ups, and Spin-Offs,” focused on mechanisms for nurturing and scaling startups, emphasizing mentorship, access to resources, and collaboration as critical drivers for enterprise growth.
Mr. Wee also guided the delegates through Singapore’s innovation framework, highlighting how incubators create environments for entrepreneurs to collaborate, develop products, and receive government and private sector support. The visit left a lasting impression, inspiring students to envision establishing similar innovation hubs in Cotabato to boost agricultural and technological development.
Also, the USM delegates, together with Young Farmers Challenge (YFC) winners from Cotabato, attended the Figuring Shit Out (FSO) Speaker Series at SGInnovate on Carpenter Street. The session, titled “If You Build It, They (Won’t) Come: Why Strategic Storytelling Is Crucial for Startups,” was led by communications strategist Eric Walter, who has worked with deep tech startups and major tech and healthcare companies.
Walter emphasized that while many innovators focus on product development, they often overlook the importance of communicating their ideas effectively. “Brilliant innovations often die while mediocre products with great storytelling win,” he noted. Delegates learned practical techniques for simplifying complex concepts, crafting compelling narratives, and designing presentations that resonate with investors, customers, and the public.
Student Apple Grace Miles reflected: “It was inspiring to realize that innovation isn’t only about invention—it’s also about connection. Learning how to tell the story behind our work helps us make our ideas more meaningful and impactful to society.”
This experience reinforced the value of strategic storytelling as an essential skill for researchers and entrepreneurs, aligning with the Provincial Government of Cotabato’s goal to empower youth and expose them to global best practices.
Credit to: John Rey I. Alejo
