FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
USER REGISTRATION
1. What is Innovation?
Innovation is the development of new or improved policies, products, goods,
and services, which are then spread or transferred across the market. [Sec.
3(f), RA 11293]
2. What is the Innovation Grants Programs?
Section 21 of R.A. No. 11293 or the Philippine Innovation Act, provides for the
establishment and administration of the Innovation Fund which aims to strengthen
entrepreneurship and enterprises engaged in developing innovative solutions
benefitting the poorest of the poor.
An amount of One Hundred Million Pesos (PhP 100,000,000.00) is appropriated to
support innovation programs, activities, and projects undertaken by eligible
government agencies.
3. Who can register and create an account with EIGIS?
Only the designated Program/Project Leader, who holds a permanent plantilla
position and is authorized by their Head of Agency, can register with EIGIS and
submit a proposal.
4. How do I register with EIGIS?
To register with EIGIS, download and complete the prescribed Authorization
Form template with all necessary details, and then obtain approval from your
Head of Agency.
Once you have the signed Authorization Form, proceed to register on EIGIS by
clicking Register at the top of the homepage. Fill out the form and type the same
email and details provided in the Authorization Form. You will be prompted to
upload a copy of the signed Authorization Form. Please ensure that the file is
in .pdf, .jpeg, .jpg, or .png format.
As part of the registration process, the Program/Project Leader will need to make
certain declarations, including confirming specific information about the agency
and proposal to be submitted for the 2025 Innovation Grants.
Please ensure that the information provided in the signed authorization form
matches exactly with the details encoded into the EIGIS such as the email
address where we will send the result of your account registration within three (3)
working days.
5. How do I submit a proposal?
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Only proposals submitted though EIGIS will be accepted. Proposals submitted
through any other platform will not be honored.
To submit a proposal, log in to your EIGIS account and go to Create Proposal.
Fill out all the required fields in Forms 1, 2 and 3. Ensure that all necessary and
accurate information is provided in the Forms and Undertaking sections.
You may choose to Save as Draft if you are not ready to submit or select
Submit as Final to officially submit your proposal. Once submitted as final, the
proposal will undergo screening and evaluation. You will receive a confirmation
email upon receipt. After final submission, no further changes, revisions, or
uploading of supporting documents will be allowed, even if the deadline has not
yet passed.
It is highly recommended to prepare and save a local file with all the data to be
encoded in EIGIS. This will make encoding easier and help prevent data loss in
case of technical issues.
6. How many user accounts can an agency register?
The agency has the discretion to authorize additional Program/Project Leaders
as needed, depending on the number of proposals it intends to submit. Please
note that only the designated Program/Project Leader is authorized to create and
submit a proposal in EIGIS. However, one Program/Project Leader may submit
multiple proposals.
7. What if I can't find my agency from the list in the registration form?
If your agency is not listed in the options on the registration form, select the
appropriate Type of Government Office from the dropdown menu, then choose
either Other Local State University or Other Local University or College from
the list of agency names. If neither option is applicable, please send us a
message via the Contact Us section in EIGIS.
ELIGIBILITY
1. Who can apply to the 2025 Innovation Grants?
The following entities are eligible to apply for the 2025 Innovation Grants:
a) National Government Agencies (NGAs), including their attached agencies,
regional offices, and operating units;
b) Local Government Units (LGUs), including Local Universities and Colleges
(LUCs);
c) State Universities and Colleges (SUCs); and
d) Government-Owned and -Controlled Corporations (GOCCs).
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However, they must also meet additional requirements, such as the ability to
issue an Official Receipt for the receipt of funds, as specified in Section VI of the
DEPDEV Memorandum Circular No. 01, s. 2025.
2. Can private entities or individuals apply for the 2025 Innovation Grants?
Private sector entities or individuals are not eligible to apply for the 2025
Innovation Grants. However, they may participate as partner entities in the
proposed program/project, provided that their names and the nature of the
partnership are disclosed in the designated section of the application form.
Furthermore, proposals involving commercialization must identify a private
enterprise or partner that commits to adopting, utilizing, or employing the
innovative product, service, or technology to be funded.
On the other hand, it must be noted that for those with an identified private
enterprise or partner, proponents of the program/project must ensure that the
private enterprise or partner’s incorporators, organizers, directors, or officers are
not agents of, or related by consanguinity or affinity up to the fourth civil degree,
to the implementing entity officials and project team members.
3. Can barangays and DepEd schools submit a proposal?
Yes, barangays and DepEd schools may submit a proposal. However, they may
not qualify due to additional requirements outlined in Section VI of the DEPDEV
Memorandum Circular No. 01, s. 2025. In cases where these requirements are
not met, proposals can be submitted through their respective provincial or
municipal/city governments, or central offices or parent agencies. It is important
to note that in such cases, the Program/Project Leader must come from the
corresponding LGU or parent agency.
4. Are there specific qualifications for the Program/Project Leader?
Yes, as stated in Section VI of the DEPDev Memorandum Circular No. 01, s.
2025, the designated Program/Project Leader:
a) Must be a Filipino citizen of legal age;
b) Must hold a permanent or regular position and not due to retire during the
period of implementation;
c) Must not have been found guilty of administrative or criminal case,
including those under appeal; and
d) Must not be an agent of or related by consanguinity or affinity up to the
fourth civil degree to DEPDev officials and technical staff authorized to
process and/or approve the proposal, Memorandum of Agreement (MOA),
and process the release of funds.
PROPOSAL SUBMISSION
1. When is the deadline for submission of proposals?
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The deadline for submitting proposals is on 31 July 2025 (Thursday), at 11:59 PM
Philippine Standard Time.
2. What types of programs or projects may qualify for innovation grants?
There are four (4) types of programs, activities, and projects that may qualify for
innovation grants, which are as follows:
a. Pre-commercialization, Commercialization, or Diffusion of Innovations;
b. Innovation Facilities and Services;
c. Innovation Culture Promotion and Capacity Building; and
d. Innovation Policy and Administration
Proponents may combine elements from each type as they deem relevant. We
highly recommend that proponents review the specific subtypes for each
category, along with the corresponding and/or recommended expected outputs,
as detailed in Annex A of DEPDEV Memorandum Circular No. 01, s. 2025 .
Only the types of programs, activities, and projects specified in the said
document will be allowed and/or qualify for the 2025 Innovation Grants.
Note that any proposal that includes any form of investment, such as, but not
limited to money market placements, time deposits, real property and motor
vehicle purchases, or any other financial investments, will not be permitted and
may be grounds for disapproval.
3. Is there a limit to the number of proposals an agency can submit?
No, there is no limit to the number of proposals an agency can submit. However,
it is highly recommended that the Head of Agency track and ensure that all
proposals submitted have received clearance from management and will be
supported by the agency for implementation should one, more, or all of them be
approved.
4. Is there a limit to the amount of project funding that can be proposed?
No, there is no limit to the amount of project funding that can be proposed, as
long as the requested amount is properly justified and outlined in the proposal,
particularly in Form 3: Work and Financial Plan. However, the final approved
budget may still be subject to negotiation based on the assessments of the NIC-
ETB and NIC Secretariat, considering factors such as approved program/project
components, timelines, and other relevant components.
5. What is the allowed program/project duration of implementation for the
2025 Innovation Grants, and can a multi-year program/project proposal be
submitted?
The allowed duration for program/project implementation may exceed one (1)
year. However, if the proposal is approved, the final implementation timeline may
still be subject to negotiation based on the assessments of the NIC-ETB and NIC
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Secretariat, considering factors such as the approved budget and other relevant
components. Therefore, multi-year program/project proposals can be submitted,
but the final implementation timeline will depend on further negotiations after
approval of the proposal.
6. Can two (2) or more agencies submit a joint proposal and partner with each
other in implementing a project?
Yes, two (2) or more agencies can submit a joint proposal and partner with each
other for implementation, provided that the primary proponent is an eligible public
entity with a proven record of accomplishments and an established reputation in
designing, developing, implementing, and monitoring innovation programs,
activities, or projects. Furthermore, to avoid duplicative proposal submissions and
to assign primary accountability, there should only be one lead agency serving as
the primary proponent.
7. Can a public entity endorse a program/project to be implemented by a
private entity?
No, public entities may not endorse a program or project to be implemented by a
private entity. Private entities or individuals are not eligible to serve as the
implementing entity. However, they may participate as partners. The overall
implementation of the program or project, including the management of approved
funds, must be carried out by the proponent.
8. Can I change the indicated and pre-filled Type of Government Office and/or
Proponent Name in Form 1: Grants Application Form in EIGIS?
The type of government office and the name of the proponent agency are
automatically pre-filled in Form 1 based on the information provided by the
authorized user during registration. Any changes are subject to review and
approval by the NIC Secretariat. For requests to change your type of government
office and/or proponent name, please send a message with the necessary details
through the Contact Us section.
9. What are the additional requirements needed to submit together with the
Form 1: Grant Application Form?
The proponent is required to attach a copy of the Curriculum Vitae or Personal
Data Sheet of the Program/Project Leader. Furthermore, the proponent may
choose to submit technical drawings or other supporting documents related to the
proposal. It is also highly recommended that the proponent include their most
recent agency scorecard or any proof of compliance with performance and
reporting standards, such as the Transparency Seal, ISO Quality Management
System, FOI, Citizen's Charter, etc. (if available).
On the other hand, for proposals under Innovation Facilities and Services,
particularly those involving the refurbishment and enhancement of physical
facilities, it is recommended that the proponent submit a copy of the Transfer
Certificate of Title for the land where the facilities will be refurbished and/or
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enhanced. A certification from the proponent or implementing entity may also be
provided, confirming that the site is free from any impediments, such as informal
settlers, property ownership disputes, natural obstructions (e.g., mountains), or
right-of-way issues. Should the proposal be approved, these documents will be
required for submission.
10. Can we submit the same or a similar proposal to what we submitted last
year, but with recent edits or enhancements?
Yes, you may submit the same or a similar proposal, provided that it does not
constitute double funding, wherein the same activity for the same set of
beneficiaries is funded more than once using public funds. Furthermore, please
ensure that the proposal is allowed and aligns with the types of programs,
activities, and projects outlined in Annex A of DEPDEV Memorandum Circular
No. 01, s. 2025.
11. Can we submit proposals that have already been submitted to other
funding agencies but have not yet been approved?
Yes, it is allowed since it does not constitute double funding at this stage.
However, we discourage forum shopping, which refers to a situation where a
proponent submits the same proposal to two or more funding agencies. If the
proposal is approved by multiple agencies, the NIC Secretariat will require full
disclosure to avoid double funding. If an agreement cannot be reached, the
proponent will be asked to choose only one source of funding for the same
proposal.
12. Can we still apply for the 2025 Innovation Grants if we have already been a
recipient of the 2022, 2023, and/or 2024 Innovation Grants?
Yes, you are still eligible to apply for the 2025 Innovation Grants. However, you
must first be cleared of all physical and financial accountabilities from your
previous programs/projects. You are required to submit the following:
a) Certification from your chief accountant that previous funds received from
DEPDev have been liquidated, post audited, and recorded in the books; and
b) Certification from DEPDev confirming that your agency has no outstanding
physical or financial accountabilities from previously completed projects.
On the other hand, for ongoing programs/projects under the 2023 Innovation
Grants, the proponent must ensure that all required reports, including those for
the latest quarter, have been submitted.
13. How long does the evaluation process take?
The evaluation process takes an estimated two (2) to three (3) months until the
issuance of the notice of acceptance/award.
14. How can I track the status of my application?
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Once you Submit as Final your proposal, a confirmation email and proposal
code will be sent in the registered email of the Program/Project Leader and Head
of Agency. Use the proposal code in the Track section of EIGIS for updates on
the status of your proposal submission.
All qualified proposals will undergo the evaluation process as outlined in Section
IX, Item B, and Annex B of DEPDev Memorandum Circular No. 01, s. 2025 .
Proponents of shortlisted proposals may be invited to discuss their proposals
during the deliberation of the NIC Executive Technical Board. Official results will
be sent to all email addresses indicated in the submitted Form 1: Grant
Application Form.
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