The Department of Science and Technology – Technology Application and Promotion Institute (DOST-TAPI) awarded innovators and innovators during the National Invention Competition and Exhibition (NICE) 2026 on Tuesday at Acacia Hotel Manila in Muntinlupa City.
Awards are given in many categories. The first category is the Tuklas Award for Most Outstanding Invention (government and privately funded). The winner in the sub-state category was the Multi-shell Neutron Spectrometer from the NCR Collection. Demolluscum herbal cream won in the privately funded sub-category.
The Multi-shell Neutron Spectrometer is an innovative instrument that measures neutron radiation in a simple and practical way. The technology is intended to be used in hospitals with radiation treatment facilities, research laboratories, nuclear and radiation safety centers.
Meanwhile, Demolluscum is an herbal cream designed to treat molluscum contagiosum, a contagious skin infection caused by the poxvirus, and similar skin conditions using local plants. It offers a non-invasive, affordable, and simple alternative to surgery, curettage, or laser therapy.
The Banghay Award for the Industrial Design category, was won by Delfin C. Cuevas Jr. and his Multi-grain Precision Seeder with Fertilizer Applicator. The Precision Seeder is a hand-operated, two-in-one agricultural tool designed for precision seeding and controlled fertilizer application.
The Likha Award for Creative Research is a government and privately funded category, where the only government category has a declared winner, the Point-of-Care (on-site) African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV) Detection System.
The ASFV Detection System uses a DNA extraction kit, and a real-time PCR detection kit that delivers reliable detection of ASFV in less than an hour. The Point-of-Care ASFV detection system enables sample testing to results in less than 90 minutes, providing a fast and efficient diagnostic solution in the field.
Finally, the Sibol Award for Student Creative Research for College is sponsored by the Visayas Group and I-Count, an Artificial Intelligence powered chick counting tool to launch jobs.
II-Count is an AI-powered chick counting and mortality detection device to help improve efficiency, accuracy, and environmental safety in poultry hatching operations.
According to DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr., the NICE Presidential Awards is the highest recognition given to Filipino inventors and inventors under RA 7459.
NICE is an annual event held by DOST-TAPI to showcase Filipino innovation and give due recognition to the hard work and efforts of Filipino inventors and researchers, including students.
“DOST-TAPI provides targeted support through its key programs: patent and intellectual property assistance, protected development, technology promotion and marketing, connecting inventors with industries, investors, and adapters, technology transfer and commercial support to allow market entry and promotion, international exposure programs that open up global opportunities for Philippine innovations,” said Mr. Solidum.
“Through NICE and ClusterRICE (Regional Industry Competitions and Exhibitions) we continue to promote Filipino innovations that strengthen industries, improve daily lives, and create new opportunities for Filipinos,” he said. – Kaizzer Angela Marie V. Manuba
