The CMU BOR approved the institutionalization of CMU ATBI through the revised CMU Policy on Intellectual Property, Technology Transfer, and Commercialization by BOR Resolution 45, s. 2020. Under Article 6 of the revised policy, the Intellectual Property Licensing Office (IPLO) was renamed Intellectual Property Technology Business and Management (IPTBM) Office.

The CMU-ATBI operates as one of the units of the IPTBM Office, which will be under the supervision of the VPRDE. The unit will be specifically called Technology Business Incubation Unit (TBIU) alongside the Intellectual Property Licensing Unit (IPLU) and Technology Transfer Unit (TTU). Figure 15 shows the organizational structure of the IPTBM.

The CMU ATBI and the IPTBM units have a newly assigned office. The installation ceremony of the DOST-PCAARRD-CMU IPLU and TBIU memorial markers was conducted on August 18, 2020. The activity was graced by some of the CMU Administration headed by President Jesus Antonio G. Derije, the University President, and guests. The provision of the designated building shows the overwhelming support of the CMU Administration for the technology commercialization endeavor in the University.

During the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) due to Covid 19 pandemic, some incubatees were affected in terms of finding markets for their products. Because of this dilemma, the DOST-PCAARRD initiated the purchase of the incubatees products and gave these as relief goods to the community.

In response to this, the CMU ATBI has selected the fresh mushroom, mushroom spawn, tea products, and potted plants (mint, stevia, and tarragon) from their incubatees and has distributed them as relief goods to the front liners in the fifteen (15) barangays of Malaybalay City, Rural Health Unit (RHU) and checkpoint of Lantapan, LGU of Barangay Dologon, CMU-Hospital and Kiharong of Maramag, Bukidnon.

An average of five (5) kilograms of mushroom was distributed to the fifteen barangays in Malaybalay City, Aglayan checkpoint, RHU, and checkpoint in Lantapan, Bukidnon, and CMU-Hospital. The raw product was utilized as an ingredient in cooking the food of the frontliners.

Three hundred (300) tea products were distributed to the front liners in Barangay Dologon, Maramag, Bukidnon. The tea products are known to help detoxify and boost immunity, thus contributing to the wellness of the frontliners while on duty.

Two hundred twenty (220) potted plants (mint, stevia, tarragon, basil, and Italian oregano) were distributed to the members of Kiharong Women’s Association of Kiharong, Maramag, Bukidnon who were into backyard gardening.

One hundred packs of mushroom spawns were distributed to the incubatees and other mushroom growers in Bukidnon. This is a form of assistance among incubatees who have difficulty accessing this raw material for their mushroom production; hence, it encourages them to intensify their production.

It can be seen through the smiles behind the masks that the front liners, who deserve the utmost respect and kindness, were full of gratitude for the goods that they received. The incubatees were also thankful that they were able to market their products even during the time of the pandemic. It was indeed a fulfilling and a learning-filled experience for the project team members and incubatees to be able to take a minor part in paving the road to #WeHealAsOne.

CMU-ATBI collaborated with NOMCAARRD and purchased garden tools, vegetable seeds, and an African night-crawler (for vermicomposting), which were given to the incubates. The materials cost PHP 71 000.00 in total.  This fund afforded by NOMCARRD was an assistance initiative given to farmers during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the CMU-ATBIs incubatees were chosen to become one of the recipients.

The CMU ATBI fastened a partnership with the Davao Agricultural Ventures Corporation (DAVCO) in Don Carlos, Bukidnon, a multi-national company that supported the women’s organizations, namely: San Nicolas Women’s Livelihood Organization Inc. (SNWLOI), Manahan Clan Women’s Livelihood Organization Inc. (MCWLOI), Sumin-ao Clan Women’s Livelihood Organization Inc. (SCWLOI), Midtemma Women’s Livelihood Organization Inc. (MWLOI) and Community Women’s Association (COMWA). A MOA was signed between these organizations and CMU. At the same time, another MOA was forged between the DAVCO and CMU to work together to support the women’s organizations in developing their enterprises. One of the forms of support extended by DAVCO was the provision of venue, food, and snacks during the conduct of the series of training.

Also, the CMU ATBI forged a MOA with DTI-Bukidnon. One of the provisions in the MOA is for DTI to provide resource persons or experts in the conduct of training and give incubatees access to the services offered by DTI that are essential to running their business.

The CMU ATBI is also linked with the different government and private sectors for a possible partnership and collaboration.

Several training courses were given to the incubatees. The women’s organizations (SNWLOI, MWLOI, and COMWA) have attended a training series including marketing and operations management, basic accounting and organization, and management, which were conducted from January to February 2020. They have almost completed the training modules in the ATBI curriculum. The conduct of this training was supported by the Davao Agricultural Ventures Corporation (DAVCO). This multi-national pineapple company shouldered the food and snacks of the participants, the speakers, and the venue. Being a partner with the DAVCO was an effective and more convenient way of helping the organizations develop their enterprise.

Meanwhile, training courses on mushroom production, business plan making, and meat processing were given to other incubatees. The Buhi Cooperative specifically requested training on meat processing. The coop representatives have undergone training on processing longganisa, tocino, tapa, embotido, ham, and siomai, conducted in July-August at the ATBI Office. The project collaborator from the College of Human Ecology was the resource person for the said training.

The Central Luzon State University (CLSU) and PCAARRD also conducted a Real-Time Monitoring Seminar Online, which included a topic on Product Photography attended by the staff and incubatees. The incubatees were given access to the DOST-PCAARRD website to post their products for sale to reach a broader market.

Aside from training, the services and assistance received by the incubatees include designing their logo and packaging layout, market linkage, access to inputs, garden tools provision, coaching, and mentoring. Also, CMU ATBI assisted the incubatees in preparing the requirements for the loan or grants. These requirements include the business plan, financial statement, and business permit. These are the activities that contributed to the development of the incubatees enterprise. These also created a good working relationship between the incubatees and the ATBI staff, contributing to the project deliverables.

ATBI staff attended different training/workshops/seminars/webinars to equip themselves with the necessary skills further to implement the project.

The ATBI staff also attended training conducted for incubatees following the tagline “We learn as one” during this time of the pandemic. These training include mushroom production and meat processing such as tocino, longganisa, tapa, embotido, siomai, and ham. Knowing the technologies of the incubatee allowed the personnel to better assist the incubatees in product development and enhancement.