MANILA, Philippines — Dr. Shiba has opened registration for the Dr. Shiba Pet Care Innovation Challenge, a nationwide competition inviting veterinary students and recent graduates to develop original pet care product concepts for dogs and cats. The competition offers ₱100,000 in total cash prizes, with registration and concept-paper submissions closing on November 20.
Participants will identify a pet care need and propose a product supported by scientific evidence, safety considerations, and a practical case for its use in the Philippine market.
The competition is open to currently enrolled veterinary students at any year level in an accredited veterinary school in the Philippines, as well as graduates who completed their veterinary studies within the past two years. Participants may compete individually or in teams of up to three members from the same school.
Participants have creative flexibility in the products they propose within dog and cat care. Areas may include nutritional supplements or treats, functional food, preventive care or first aid, grooming and hygiene, skin and coat care, and pet comfort or wellness.
Entrants will submit a concept paper describing the problem they want to address, their proposed product, its scientific basis, and safety and feasibility considerations. Entries must be original and must not have been published or submitted to another competition.
A judging panel will assess entries for relevance, scientific soundness, innovation, feasibility, and presentation quality. Finalists will be notified on November 27 and will present their concepts online on December 10. Winners will be announced on December 12.
First place will receive ₱60,000, second place will receive ₱30,000, and third place will receive ₱10,000.
“Veterinary students across the Philippines understand the realities that pet owners and practitioners deal with every day,” said Philipp Renner, founder and CEO of Dr. Shiba. “We want to give them the time, feedback, and support to develop those ideas properly.”
Teams must register before submitting their concept papers. Registered teams will receive the concept-paper submission link by email, with both stages closing on November 20, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Philippine time.
Registration: tinyurl.com/DrShibaVetCompetition. Competition inquiries and requests for the complete guidelines may be sent to den@dr-shiba.com.
