UC Signs MOA with 4NexGen, the Tech Company Behind Xode Blockchain

By Caesar Ditan

University of Cebu-4NexGen MOA signing. Seated L-R: Gene Son, XODE Founder, Harold Glenn Minerva, 4NexGen CEO, Dean Ofelia Maña, UC Vice Chancellor for Business Development and Innovation, Gahum Garcia, XODE Co-founder, and Caesar Ditan, 4NexGen CMO. Standing is Dean Moma Ortega, UC-PT Campus Academic Director.

CEBU CITY (July 10, 2024). The University of Cebu forges a historic agreement with 4NexGen, the tech company behind XODE blockchain, the Philippines’ first homegrown blockchain, in a simple ceremony at the UC Banilad Campus. Signing the Memorandum of Agreement on behalf of UC was Dean Ofelia Maña, Vice Chancellor for Business Development and Innovation. Signing for 4NexGen was Harold Glenn Minerva, 4NexGen CEO, Gene Son, XODE Founder, Gahum Garcia, XODE Co-founder, and Caesar Ditan, 4NexGen CMO.

“Industry-academe linkage is very important. This (MOA) is one way of lessening the gap. It has always been the complaint of most industries and even the academe that there is such a gap between what we are teaching in the university and what the needs are of the various industries. This afternoon is one very important step to lessen the gap between industries and the academe — 4NexGen in particular and the University of Cebu,” says Dean Ofelia Maña, Vice Chancellor for Business Development and Innovation at the University of Cebu. “Thank you very much that you will be helping the University of Cebu in improving the knowledge, especially of our faculty and also students in terms of blockchain (technology).” Dean Maña adds.

Dean Ofelia Maña: “Industry-academe linkage is very important.”

Witnessing the milestone event were UC’s top guns: Dean Moma Ortega, UC-PT Campus Academic Director, Dr. Janette Tanquis, CCS — Dean of UCLM Campus, Neil Basabe, CCS-Dean of UC Main Campus, Eric Ortega, OIC Chairperson of UC-Banilad Campus, Carlo Petalver, CCS-Program Chairperson of UC-PT Campus, and Glende Brazil, CCS Program Chairperson of UCLM Campus.

Witnessing the MOA signing. Standing L-R are Dr. Janette Tanquis, CCS — Dean of UCLM Campus, Glende Brazil, CCS Program Chairperson of UCLM Campus, Neil Basabe, CCS-Dean of UC Main Campus, Eric Ortega, OIC Chairperson of UC-Banilad Campus, Carlo Petalver, CCS-Program Chairperson of UC-PT Campus, and Dean Moma Ortega, UC-PT Campus Academic Director.

“In the coming-out party of XODE Blockchain last June 19, 2024 at Nustar, our XODE Co-founder Gahum Vincent Garcia shared our vision for a competitive Cebu, leveraging new advances in technology like blockchain and Web3. We will share this with UC, starting with in-service training with your faculty, regular workshops with students, and bi-annual hackathons that bring out the talents and the genius of the UC community,” says HG Minerva, 4NexGen CEO. “We are committing not just attractive cash prizes to the regular hackathons, but also funding. Funding for the commercially viable projects your faculty and student teams come up with,” HG Minerva adds.

HG Minerva: “We will have a series of hackathons. If the project is good, our group will set up a company and finance the project.”

Indeed, the forward-looking academics of the University of Cebu hit the nail on its head: this historic partnership between the UC system and 4NexGen bridges the gap between the academe and industry. This is a concrete step in the right direction to answer the call for universities to be relevant partners in nation-building.