The Regional Agri-Aqua Innovation System Enhancement (RAISE) Summit Week 2025 took place on October 13–16, 2025, at Hotel Casiana, Tagaytay City, gathering innovators, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and academic leaders from across the country. With the theme “Building Bridges through ALIGNment, CONNECTion, and SYNChronization for Agri-Aqua Innovation,” the summit united 15 RAISE regional programs to strengthen partnerships and harmonize innovation frameworks toward a more resilient and sustainable agri-aqua ecosystem. The event served as a national platform for advancing technology commercialization, startup incubation, and research utilization in the agri-aqua sector.

 

The four-day program was filled with high-level plenaries, interactive discussions, and collaborative activities under the sub-events RAISE ALIGN, BINNOVATION CONNECTs, and RAISE SYNC. Distinguished leaders and experts graced the summit, including DOST Secretary Dr. Renato U. Solidum Jr., DOST-PCAARRD Executive Director Dr. Reynaldo V. Ebora, CHED Chairperson Dr. Shirley C. Agrupis, and representatives from the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), Board of Investments (BOI), Land Bank of the Philippines, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Key discussions covered the National Innovation Agenda, intellectual property management, industry-academe-government linkages, and MSME support mechanisms, highlighting the collective effort to propel regional innovations toward national impact.

 

One of the summit’s most vibrant highlights was the Agri-Aqua Technology Business Incubation (ATBI) Exhibits, officially opened through a ribbon-cutting ceremony and exhibit walkthrough. The exhibits showcased the best of agri-aqua innovation and entrepreneurship from 15 regional ATBIs nationwide, including selected incubator products from Thailand, signifying strong cross-border collaboration in agri-tech. Representing Western Mindanao, the WMSU-ATBI proudly featured its lineup of locally developed products from incubatees — Ruru Mushroom Chips, UnVas Accessories, Daduh Chili Garlic Oil, Flame Nature Mushroom Bagoong, Cafelayan Lettuce Chips, and other innovative goods. Each display reflected not only creativity and craftsmanship but also the real-world application of research and technology for livelihood and community empowerment.

 

The exhibit also transformed into a dynamic space of storytelling and shared aspirations. Incubatees from various regions presented their innovations and the journeys behind them, turning each booth into a narrative of perseverance, ingenuity, and purpose. The Gastronomic Show, headlined by Chef JR Royol of Farm to Table, elevated the celebration of local innovation with a live culinary showcase featuring ATBI products—such as Mixed Fish Pâté, Braised Goat, and Sautéed Seaweed Noodles—proving how technology incubation can translate into creative, marketable food concepts. These moments underscored how science, entrepreneurship, and culture can converge to strengthen local industries and inspire the next wave of innovators.

 

Crowning WMSU’s participation in the summit was its national recognition as RAISE-WesMin clinched the DOST-PCAARRD Executive Director’s Award for Best Regional RAISE Video, besting 15 other regional entries. Spearheaded by Dr. Reynante E. Autida, Project Leader of WMSU-ATBI and Director of the Research, Development, and Evaluation Center (RDEC), the achievement reflects WMSU’s strong leadership in fostering innovation and inclusive development. With 52 incubatees mentored, 45 technologies supported, 146 intellectual properties filed, and over ₱7 million in startup revenue generated, RAISE-WesMin stands as a cornerstone of agri-aqua innovation in Western Mindanao. Its flagship technologies—such as the ZamPen Native Chicken, Oyster Mushroom Chips, Coconut Dehusker, and EcoTap Rubber Propagation Technology—continue to transform scientific knowledge into community-driven enterprise.

 

We extend deep gratitude to DOST-PCAARRD, summit partners, the WMSU administration (President Dr. Ma. Carla A. Ochotorena, VP for Research & Extension Dr. Joel G. Fernando, VP for Resource Generation Dr. Teresita A. Narvaez, and WESMAARRDEC Director Dr. Leonilo B. Abella), consortium partners JRMSU, PRRI, ZSCMST, and JHCSC, and every resource speaker, exhibitor, and participant who made this summit a success. Your active engagement — from plenary contributions to exhibitor storytelling — fueled meaningful connections and tangible outcomes. Moving forward, RAISE-WesMin and its partners remain committed to deepening industry-academe linkages, expanding knowledge databases, and accelerating technology commercialization so that research-driven innovations continue to empower communities and strengthen the agri-aqua sector nationwide.