USM Professor Wins Best Research Paper at 5th OPAPRU Peace Research Conference
November 11, 2025
The University of Southern Mindanao (USM) through its President Dr. Jonald L. Pimentel alongside USMart Technology Business Incubator (USMart TBI) project leader and staff headed by Dr. Jalaloden B. Marohom, actively participated in SALIKSYNC: The 1st National Impact Conference, organized by the Department of Science and Technology–Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD), held in Bacolod City on November 6–7, 2025.
USM showcased its strong commitment to research and innovation by joining this national platform that advances technology transfer and innovation-driven development across universities and research institutions in the country. The university also earned recognition for its potential inclusion in the IMPACT NXT Program. This highlighted USM’s growing role in promoting research excellence and transformative innovation in the Philippines.
Dr. Renato U. Solidum, Jr., the DOST Secretary, graced the occasion and formally opened the said conference. According to him, DOST continues to push for the commercialization of these innovations with the help of various stakeholders such as universities and the business sector.
“Our technologies must reach the industries… and this can only happen if we build strong bridges between research and enterprise,” the secretary spoke.
The first day of the event began with a workshop on navigating the IMPACT NXT Framework, that outlined the program’s goals and strategic direction. Participants explored how the framework supports innovation and strengthens the country’s technology transfer ecosystem.
A session on maintaining the relevance of intellectual property (IP) management in universities and research institutions followed. It emphasized the need to sustain effective IP practices within higher education and R&D environments. Breakout sessions then brought together technology business incubators (TBIs) and partner institutions for KTTTO Training Preliminaries and Unified Consent Workshops, fostering collaboration among the 34 participating IMPACT institutions and onboarded TBIs.
During the plenary, national government and industry representatives expressed their support for strengthening partnerships between the public and private sectors. Discussions focused on transforming intellectual property into innovation through the IMPACT initiative and the broader role of knowledge transfer in advancing the Philippine technology landscape.
The day concluded with the official launch of IMPACT NXT, which underscored the importance of collaboration among institutions and higher education organizations in building stronger IP management systems. Through the series of presentations, workshops, and exchanges, participants gained valuable insights into policy development, innovation management, startup ecosystem growth, and the ongoing professionalization of technology transfer in the country.
Through its active participation, USM continues to champion innovation, enhance technology transfer capabilities, and translate research into real-world impact that benefits communities and industries across the country.
