The Department of Science and Technology – Technology Application and Promotion Institute (DOST-TAPI) conducted the first leg of its Regional Invention Contest and Exhibits by Cluster or ClusteRICE from August 19 to 20, 2025, at the PSHS Main Campus in Quezon City.
“With this, it shows that this is a continuation of a legacy, a legacy that began with the very purpose of empowering innovators like you…” said by the DOST-TAPI Director, Atty. Marion Ivy D. Decena, CESO III, addressed the event.
National Capital Region (NCR) was a trailblazer as the first cluster, with fifty-three (53) finalists competing in the first round across five (5) categories of ClusteRICE.
Out of all the fifty-three (53) finalists, the following cluster qualifiers will advance to the final round of the 2026 National Invention Contest and Exhibits (NICE):
| Entry Title | Category | Region |
| Effectiveness and Safety of Herbal cream preparation DEMOLLUSCUM in the removing of Molluscum Contagiosum and the Like using Cashew nut oil extract (Anacardium occidentale, Linn.) | Tuklas Award for Outstanding Invention (Private-Funded Category) | NCR |
| Multi-shell Neutron Spectrometer (MuNS) | Tuklas Award for Outstanding Invention (Government Category) | NCR |
| Electromagnetic Power Generating Device | Unlad Award for Outstanding Utility Model | NCR |
| Car Charging and Battery Monitoring System | Banghay Award for Outstanding Industrial Design | Merged from REGION X |
| Compost Bin composed of container and insulator | Likha Award for Outstanding Creative Research for Private Category | NCR |
| Point-Of-Care (On-Site) African Swine Fever Virus Detection System | Likha Award for Outstanding Creative Research for the Government Category | NCR |
| Anti-Theft Electronic Wireless Cut-Off Engine Starting System: A Motorcycle Helmet Application | Sibol Award for Outstanding Student Creative Research for the College Category | NCR |
| Vest The Best | Sibol Award for Outstanding Student Creative Research for High School Category | NCR |
These inventions are set to compete in the next round, which is the 2026 National Invention Contest and Exhibits (NICE). The next clusters will take place on these dates:
| Cluster | Date |
| Visayas | August 27 to 28, 2025 |
| South Luzon | October 01 to 02, 2025 |
| Mindanao | October 07 – 08, 2025 |
| North Luzon | October 14 – 15, 2025 |
Congratulations again to the winners of the 2025 ClusteRICE NCR!
The Department of Science and Technology -Technology Application and Promotion Institute (DOST-TAPI) is one of DOST’s service agencies whose primary responsibility is to promote the commercialization of technologies and market the services of other operating units of the Department. It was created by virtue of Executive Order No. 128 on 30 January 1987.
If you want to learn more about the programs and services of DOST-TAPI, you may email us at info@tapi.dost.gov.ph, call us at (02) 8582 1450, or visit our DOST-TAPI Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/DOST.TAPI) for more details.
