PHL innovators and inventors awarded at NICE 2026

The Department of Science and Technology – Technology Application and Promotion Institute (DOST-TAPI) has awarded inventors and innovators during the National Invention Contest and Exhibits (NICE) 2026 on Tuesday at Acacia Hotel Manila in Muntinlupa City.

The awards were given for several categories. The first category is the Tuklas Award for Most Outstanding Invention (government and privately-funded). The government subcategory winner was the Multi-shell Neutron Spectrometer from NCR cluster. The Demolluscum herbal cream won for the privately-funded subcategory. 

The Multi-shell Neutron Spectrometer is an innovative device that measures neutron radiation in a simple and practical way. The technology is intended for use in hospitals with medical radiation facilities, research laboratory, nuclear and radiation safety institutions.

Meanwhile, Demolluscum is an herbal cream designed to treat molluscum contagiosum, a contagious skin infection caused by a poxvirus, and similar skin conditions using locally available plant extracts. It offers a non-invasive, affordable, and convenient alternative to cryosurgery, curettage, or laser therapy.

The Banghay Award for the Industrial Design category, won by Delfin C. Cuevas Jr. and his Multi-grain Precision Seeder with Fertilizer Applicator. The Precision Seeder is a manually operated, two-in-one agricultural tool designed for precision seed planting and controlled fertilizer application.

The Likha Award for Creative Research category for government and privately-funded, where only the government category had a proclaimed 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 which delivers reliable ASFV detection in less than an hour. The Point-of-Care ASFV detection system enables sample-to-result testing in under 90 minutes, providing a rapid and efficient solution for field diagnostics.

Lastly, the Sibol Award for Student Creative Research for College was bagged by the Visayas cluster with I-Count, an Artificial Intelligence powered optical chick counting device for unloading operations.

The I-Count is an AI-powered optical chick counting and mortality detection device to help improve efficiency, accuracy, and biosecurity in poultry unloading operations.

According to DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr., the NICE Presidential Awards is the highest recognition conferred upon Filipino inventors and innovators under RA 7459.

NICE is a biennial activity conducted by DOST-TAPI to showcase the Filipino’s innovative creativity and give due recognition to the hard work and efforts of Filipino inventors and researchers, including the students.

“DOST-TAPI provides target support through its key programs: patent and intellectual property assistance, secure innovations, technology promotion and marketing, to connect inventors with industries, investors, and adapters, technology transfer and commercialization support to enable market entry and scaling up, international exposure initiatives that open global opportunities for Filipino innovations,” Mr. Solidum said in his message for the winners.

“Through NICE and ClusteRICE (Regional Invention Contests and Exhibits by Cluster) we continue to advance Filipino innovations that strengthen industries, improve everyday life, and create new opportunities for Filipinos,” he said. — Kaizzer Angela Marie V. Manuba