University Shared Facilities
Fab Lab Cebu Technological University (CTU) Tuburan is a rapid prototyping facility, providing various digital fabrication services to the campus faculty, staff, and students, entrepreneurs, MSMEs, and the community as part of the University Shared Facilities program of the Department of Trade and Industry, the facility’s primary funder. Established in June 2018, it has offered training, tours, and assistance to its users regarding the use of the equipment in the Fab Lab. It is also a member of the international Fab Lab network (fablabs.io) and its local counterpart Fab Labs Philippines.
The facility has standard Fab Lab equipment like Laser Cutter, 3D Printer, Print & Cut Machine, CNC machine, digital embroidery machine, vacuum forming machine, and Internet-of-things kit. In 2019, it added business consulting services (branding), and technology and business incubation services in 2020. It also partnered with the University Extension Services Office for various extension programs, especially during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, as it was one of the early responders in the production of PPEs. Currently, the facility is under the university’s Office of the Vice-President of Research and Development, under the University Director for University Shared Facility.
Fab Lab CTU Tuburan is also regularly reporting its events, activities, and accomplishments to the Department of Trade and Industry, and is a regular and active participant in the agency’s Innovation events such as the annual national FabFest and Accelerating Makerspace.
CTU TC Food Innovation Center (FIC) is established to serve as a hub for innovations, and R&D for value-adding of fresh produce and development of processed foods. The introduction of new equipment like the vacuum fryer will allow the production of products using modern technology. It is envisioned that through the Center, innovative technologies, relevant support services, technical expertise, necessary infrastructures and facilities will be more accessible for micro, small and medium-sized entities (MSMEs) for a more effective technology application, deployment (transfer), and commercialization for sustained economic growth and productivity.
The facility is open to MSMEs intending to develop new products, to academe and students for the conduct of research and development (R&D) into product or process development, and the private sector interested to test their product concepts or ideas. The facility can also serve as a demonstration and instructional facility for students (from the university and other Higher Education Institutes) and training of industry and government personnel.