USM, RAISE ABH Formalize Partnership Through MOU, Memorandum of Commitment Signing

The University of Southern Mindanao (USM) and the Regional Agribusiness Hub (RAISE-ABH), one of the projects under the Regional Agri-Aqua Innovation System Enhancement (RAISE) Program in SOCCSKSARGEN formally strengthened their institutional partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), together with the signing of a Memorandum of Commitment by University President  Dr. Jonald L. Pimentel.

The ceremonial signing marks a significant accomplishment in advancing innovation-driven agribusiness development and technology commercialization in SOCCSKSARGEN under the Regional Agri-Aqua Innovation System Enhancement (RAISE) Program funded by DOST-PCAARRD.

Key officials of the RAISE Program, to wit Dr. Josephine R. Migalbin, RAISE SOCCSKSARGEN Program Leader, Prof. Ronald Z. Pascual, Project Leader of the Regional Agribusiness Hub under the RAISE Program and Project Staff Hazel Joy B. Besas and Connie Jean J. Guinmapang, witnessed the signing. 

Under the MOU, USM and RAISE-ABH formalize their collaboration to institutionalize the operation of the Regional Agribusiness Hub as the University’s pre-commercialization and enterprise development arm. The partnership aims to support researchers, faculty, students, and innovators in transforming science- and technology-based innovations into market-ready agribusiness ventures through services such as technology assessment, valuation, feasibility studies, market research, enterprise planning, and investor readiness support.

Complementing the MOU, the signing of the Memorandum of Commitment by President Pimentel signifies the University’s strong institutional backing for the sustained implementation and integration of the RAISE Program within USM’s innovation and technology transfer ecosystem. This commitment underscores USM’s role in fostering an enabling environment for research commercialization, entrepreneurship, and industry linkage, aligned with national and regional development priorities.

The partnership reinforces USM’s mandate as a leading institution for agriculture, fisheries, and natural resources research and innovation, while strengthening RAISE-ABH’s capacity to deliver structured pre-commercialization services to technologies with high market potential.

This collaboration is expected to accelerate the translation of research outputs into viable enterprises, contribute to regional economic development, and support inclusive growth by empowering innovators and agripreneurs across SOCCSKSARGEN./JRMigalbin