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The University of Southern Mindanao (USM) gathered representatives from government agencies, industry, agriculture, and the academe for its Technology Transfer Summit on September 24, 2026, at the University Commercial Building, USM, Kabacan, Cotabato, to discuss ways of bringing university-generated technologies closer to communities and potential users.
The summit featured discussions on technology commercialization, innovation adoption, startup incubation, and the role of research in addressing community needs.
In her opening remarks, USM Vice President for Research, Development, and Extension Dr. Debbie Marie B. Verzosa emphasized that the work on a research project should continue beyond the completion of its required outputs. She noted that while research projects have specific activities and measurable outputs, researchers and institutions must also look at how these outputs are used and the impact they create.
“Kapag natapos na ang research project, may clear set of accomplished outputs, and we’ve already submitted a terminal report, but we also need to move forward and look at our project’s impact. So, the impact does not end when the project ends. Kailangan po ituloy,” she said.
USM Intellectual Property, Technology Transfer and Business Development Office (IPTTBDO) head Dr. Jalaloden B. Marohom discussed the university’s participation in the Intellectual Property Management for Academic and Research Institutions Commercializing Technologies (IMPACT) NXT Program, a Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) initiative aimed at increasing the utilization and commercialization of technologies generated by higher education institutions.
Under the program, DOST-PCIEERD is investing PHP 136 million to support technology transfer efforts in 25 HEIs, including USM, over the next 1.5 years.
Dr. Marohom also introduced INOBASQET, or Innovation Breakthrough for Agri-food Systems and Quality-driven Energy Technologies, which aims to help turn regional strengths into opportunities for innovation, technology adoption, and enterprise development.
Meanwhile, Director Noel A. Catibog of the Technology Transfer and Promotion Division of the DOST-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) discussed how research and development outputs can be turned into innovations that can be adopted, used, or commercialized.
Provincial Director of DOST South Cotabato and Startup Innovation Consortium to Accelerate Development in SOCCSKSARGEN (SICAD SOX) Consortium Director Giselle Eve O. Siladan also discussed the role of startups in building the regional innovation ecosystem.
Sharing the local government perspective, Mr. Ruel Villanueva of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist of the Province of Cotabato emphasized that technology development should start with the actual challenges faced by communities, particularly farmers and fisherfolk.
“Challenges should guide our research, our innovations, our investments, and ultimately our technology transfer programs,” Villanueva said.
A government and industry sharing session followed the lectures, bringing together representatives from Land Bank of the Philippines Lending Center, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), DOST, Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, agripreneurs, the Local Government Unit of Kabacan, and PhilRice Midsayap.
The session provided an avenue for participants to learn about available programs, services, funding, and possible support for technology developers, researchers, entrepreneurs, and technology users.
The summit also featured an exhibit of USM research and innovation outputs, giving participants an opportunity to see some of the technologies and projects developed and supported by the university.
Among the featured outputs were FeedPrime, MinSuPala-IRDC/RYPIC, Calamansi Squeezer, SWOOSH, RAISE SOCCSKSARGEN, USM Halal Cosmetics, the USM R&D Display Center, Tool for Picking Nematode, Herbal Gel-based Mosquito Repellent, the Ligawasan Marsh microbes project, Stat Select, Maguindanao Koolintang, iSMART Laboratory, SINAG Energy Solutions, USM Center for Flood and Landslide Preparedness and Mitigation, and USM molecular diagnostic tools.
The summit brought researchers, technology developers, government agencies, industry representatives, and potential users into one venue to exchange ideas and explore ways of translating research outputs into innovations and actual use.
