MANILA, Philippines (Aug 2026) – Pinoy college students and faculty produce countless brilliant research projects every year, but very few of those ideas ever turn into commercial products or actual community solutions. A new national initiative aims to fix that disconnect by creating a clear pathway from university labs to the real world.
Building a nationwide blueprint
The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP) are spearheading the Innovation Blueprint of Higher Education in the Philippines. This nationwide study examines how higher education institutions handle discovery, technology development, product creation, funding, and tech transfer. As part of the effort, researchers are benchmarking top institutions to build an evidence-based roadmap that helps schools across the country commercialize their discoveries.
Learning from university ecosystems
Ateneo de Manila University was selected as a key benchmarking school to share its policies, intellectual property practices, and research facilities. The CHED study delegation, led by Project Leader Dr. Rec E. Eguia and Study Leader Dr. James S. Lasquites, conducted interviews and visited facilities like the Ateneo Research Institute of Science and Engineering. They met with university leaders, including Dr. Filomeno Aguilar Jr., Assistant Vice President for Research, Creative Work, and Innovation, and Dr. Proceso Fernandez Jr., Director of the Ateneo Intellectual Property Office.
Encouraging natural growth
University officials noted that building an environment where innovation thrives takes time and genuine interest. Dr. Aguilar emphasized that local and international collaborations grow through attraction rather than force, creating an environment that naturally encourages researchers to pursue impactful work.
The ultimate goal of the project is to provide Philippine universities with tailored frameworks to build their own innovation niches while making it easier for local research to reach everyday consumers and industries.
