UP Manila, Siemens Healthineers Tackle Healthcare Innovation in Joint Capacity Building Workshop

March 12, 2026

Text by: Jennifer Manongdo
Photos by: Sarah Hazel Moces Pulumbarit

Participants of the “Siemens Healthineers SHIFT: Innovation Capacity Building” strike a pose with officials and staff of UP Manila, Technology Transfer and Business Development Office (TTBDO), and Siemens Healthineers during the sidelines of the workshop.

The University of the Philippines Manila (UPM) and Siemens Healthineers conducted a three-day collaborative workshop titled “Siemens Healthineers SHIFT: Innovation Capacity Building” on March 3-5, 2026, at the Museum of a History of Ideas.

Designed to ignite innovation capacities and foster a sustainable culture of collaboration within the health sector, the workshop focused on the critical transition from theoretical concepts to practical, real-world solutions. The initiative brought together healthcare solutions providers, academicians, researchers, and industry experts.

Michael Schmermer, President and Managing Director of Siemens Healthineers in the Philippines, encouraged workshop participants to “be curious” and “challenge their assumptions” in creating healthcare solutions.

Mohd Ibney Ali, senior manager of Siemens Healthineers Innovation Center for Strategy and Business Development, explained the concept of double diamond innovation methodology and encouraged participants to think critically about the real beneficiaries of innovation. “What might look like a competition is actually an opportunity to pause and ask: for whom are we innovating, where should innovation reach, and how do we ensure it lasts for the long term?”

Designing with Insight

Ali opened the discussion on customer desirability, a key principle in designing medical devices and life sciences products that helps ensure long-term sustainability. The principles of High-Fidelity Prototyping and Long-term Sustainability were also tackled in the workshop.

Discussions revolved mainly on the rigorous process of transforming early-stage ideas into sophisticated medical tools.

SHIFT experts Jayati Vasada, innovation management and digital business professional, and Shyamnath Harinath, head of the SHIFT Innovation Center for Siemens Healthineers India, facilitated the discussions and shared insights on ensuring that healthcare innovations remain viable and sustainable. Participants engaged in innovation creation sessions, team presentations, and joint feedback sessions.

The interactive sessions ended with a strong message to participants to pursue excellence, relevance, integrity, and continued entrepreneurial efforts beyond the workshop. Chancellor Michael Tee encouraged attendees to submit one-page research proposals to the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) and promised institutional support to innovators.

The workshop was co-organized by the Technology Transfer and Business Development Office (TTBDO), reinforcing the university’s commitment to protecting and managing intellectual property. It builds on a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by UP Manila and Siemens Healthineers in January 2026 that encourages public service and innovation aimed at addressing real health problems.