By Mirielle Vacal
The Technology Application and Promotion Institute, under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-TAPI), opened in 2025 with a call for entries for its biennial event which is the “ClusteRICE 2025” in five (5) categories: namely, the Tuklas Award for Outstanding Invention, the Unlad Award for Outstanding Utility Model, the Banghay Award for Outstanding Industrial Design, the Likha Award for Outstanding Creative Research for Private and Government-Funded Categories, and the Sibol Award for Outstanding Student Creative Research for High School and College Levels.
Continuing the success of the previous event, its theme: “We RICE the nation with real-world solutions,” was derived from the 2024 National Invention Contest and Exhibits (NICE) message: “These are real-world solutions made by Filipinos”.
ClusteRICE Movement: The Local Innovation Search
With the enactment of Republic Act (RA) 7459 also known as the “Inventors and Invention Incentives Act of the Philippines,” in April 1992, the invention contest was held and the pre-screening and selection of finalists was done at the national level. To encourage and boost more participants from the regions, a qualifying round or screening phase was conducted in places near them. This gave birth to the Regional Invention Contest and Exhibits (RICE) which was first conducted in 2009.
National Invention Contest and Exhibits 2022
During the pandemic, the said event switched to online and proceeded with its advocacy to the innovation landscape as a virtual competition within the year 2020 to 2022 - read more in this article: NICE is coming for every Juan. Then, later on, in 2023, DOST-TAPI resumed its face-to-face setup for RICE and last year’s conduct of NICE.
National Invention Contest and Exhibits 2024
What is it for you?
The first-prize winners per category of this contest qualify for the National Invention Contest and Exhibits (NICE), which will not only award a cash prize but also support local and international recognition.
For the year 2025, instead of having a second-prize and a third-prize winner, ClusteRICE will only have one first-prize winner per category with the following cash prize/ award:
|
Category |
Cash Prize Amount |
|
Tuklas Award for Outstanding Invention Category |
50,000.00 |
|
Unlad Award for Outstanding Utility Model Category |
25,000.00 |
|
Banghay Award for Outstanding Industrial Design Category |
25,000.00 |
|
Likha Award for Outstanding Creative Research for Private and Government-Funded Categories |
20,000.00 |
|
Sibol Award for Outstanding Student Creative Research for High School and College Levels |
20,000.00 |
The other nine (9) top winners per category will receive a consolation cash award of five thousand (5,000) pesos each.
Last July 24, 2024, the President of the Republic of the Philippines, His Excellency President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. handed the cash prize award to the first prize winners of the 2024 NICE which will also happen for the succeeding awarding this 2026 - read more here: DOST-TAPI’s NICE Comeback History-Making.
DOST delegation for the 49th International Exhibition of Invention - Geneva (IEIG) [Left] and Seoul International Invention Fair (SIIF) [Right]
Alas, 2024 was the year of the global expansion and international recognition of our NICE winners from 2022 and 2024. They showcased their technologies, inventions, and research at the 49th International Exhibition of Invention—Geneva (IEIG) in April 2024 and at the Seoul International Invention Fair (SIIF) in November 2024. To learn more about these, read these articles: NICE Winners Shine Bright in Geneva Competition and Celebrating Filipino Greatness: DOST Delegates Received Multiple Awards at SIIF 2024.
Take the opportunity and let’s RICE up the nation!
Are you ready to RICE up the nation with your idea? Do not waste this opportunity and send your entries before the deadline (March 15, 2025, 11:59 PM).
Entry form for Tuklas, Banghay, Unlad, and Likha:https://bit.ly/3Cbp8jm
Entry form for Sibol Student Creative Research (High School and College): https://bit.ly/3PtPLDd
Mechanics and Guidelines: https://bit.ly/3WcDPJU
** This article is part of the “ClusteRICE 2025” Campaign. For more information and event updates, please visit the DOST-TAPI website at www.tapi.dost.gov.ph. For media inquiries, please get in touch with Ms. Mirielle Vacal at +639567113145 or Mr. Heherson Valdez at +639064477735, or email them at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. **
