The Presidential Filipinnovation Awards (PFA) 2026 has opened its 2nd application cycle, positioning itself as the Philippines’ highest national recognition for Filipino-led innovation, including solutions developed by Filipinos based overseas.
Established under Executive Order No. 99, series of 2025, the PFA is anchored in the government’s broader push to strengthen the country’s innovation ecosystem under the Philippine Innovation Act. The awards are led by the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development, which serves as vice chair of the National Innovation Council and the main implementing body of the program.
Unlike traditional awards that focus only on recognition, the PFA is designed as a scaling platform for early-stage innovations with strong national impact potential. Five outstanding innovators will receive the award by authority of the President, alongside a full support package that includes financial grants, expert mentoring, and access to local and international markets.
According to official program releases, the PFA targets Filipino individuals, startups, and enterprises that are already in early-stage commercialization and ready to scale.
For the 2026 cycle, the awards adopt an open-category format, meaning there are no sector restrictions. Innovations will be assessed based on scalability, market readiness, and their ability to address real-world challenges with national relevance.
For Filipino innovators in the UAE and other overseas hubs, the PFA offers a rare pathway to bring globally developed ideas into the Philippine innovation system, backed by national recognition and structured support.
Eligible innovators have until mid-March 2026 to apply. Those with market-ready solutions and plans to scale are encouraged to prepare documents early and monitor official PFA channels for updates.