The makings of a true inventor

Jeremy de Leon has always had fondness for tinkering and taking apart toys as well as appliances in an effort to discover how they work.

In college at Mapúa University, he joined ideas and design competitions to apply the science and technology principles he learned and create practical, real-world solutions. That's why it's no surprise that he was named the 2023 James Dyson Award National Winner. He later on qualified for the international leg with his invention of the Make-roscope, an ultra-portable, affordable keychain microscope that can magnify organisms from 125X to 400X when placed on the front camera of a smartphone or tablet.

With its food-grade silicone exterior, the waterproof and easy-to-use Make-roscope can be used multiple times as an alternative to expensive compound light microscopes used by schools and laboratories.

 The Mapúa alumnus introduced the initial concept of the Make-roscope in 2021, where it bagged the top prize at the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) and TikTok #PinoyInnovator Hashtag Challenge along his other invention, a flashlight microscope-projector, which won fourth place.

 De Leon applied for a DoST grant that enabled him to produce 2,000 units. He donated 1,000 of these to schools, students and organizations for free. The remaining 1,000 were consigned by a corporate foundation for their beneficiaries. These 2,000 users can be found in Manila, Ilocos, Marawi and Mindanao.

Since then, the Manufacturing Engineering graduate has upgraded its design and functionality to the silicone-housed version and accompanying lab kit that earned the nod of the James Dyson tilt. His start-up company, jereMAKE, has produced 6,000 units, some of which are used abroad.

 Today, De Leon is applying for research and development grants to formalize his start-up. He is also looking at expanding the use of his invention in the education space by incorporating supplementary tools, subjects and laboratory modules that teachers can use. After this, he envisions its expansion in veterinary, agriculture, horticulture and food industries – sectors that will significantly benefit from using a portable optical tool. 

He related how some clients use it to check the food fermentation processes and several veterinarians used it during field consults. He also cited how agriculturists could use it to identify microbes in the soil while hog breeders could check their livestock's sperm samples for breeding.  

"I really want to prioritize the education space because I think it will continue the vision of creating more innovations in the Philippines, so they will be inspired to innovate and create a new breed of innovators," said De Leon.