Innovation Without Borders: UMasenso Hub and ITSO Welcome UIC Delegation to Advance Technology Transfer and Entrepreneurial Excellence
In a significant step toward strengthening regional innovation ecosystems and fostering collaborative growth, the Innovation and Technology Support Office (ITSO) and UMasenso Hub of the University of Mindanao recently hosted a benchmarking activity with a delegation from the University of the Immaculate Conception (UIC) last May 12, 2026 at the Innovation Complex.
The engagement served as a platform for knowledge exchange, best-practice sharing, and discussions on strengthening innovation management, technology transfer, intellectual property development, and entrepreneurship programs within higher education institutions.
Leading the UIC delegation were Dr. Mona Laya, RPIC Director; Dr. Ma. Nanette Casquejo, ITSO Manager; Dr. Marybeth Lauron, MARIAN Technology Business Incubator (TBI) Manager; Dr. Harrold Beltran, Intellectual Property Officer; Ms. Jennifer Ramirez, TBI Administrative Assistant; and Ms. Elaine Jane Mante, TBI Technical Staff.
The visiting team was warmly welcomed by the University of Mindanao's innovation leaders, who showcased the institution's initiatives and accomplishments in supporting startups, nurturing innovation-driven enterprises, and facilitating technology commercialization through UMasenso Hub and ITSO programs.
Throughout the benchmarking activity, participants engaged in meaningful discussions on institutional strategies for fostering innovation cultures, managing intellectual property assets, strengthening incubation programs, and creating pathways for transforming research outputs into viable products, services, and enterprises. The exchange highlighted the growing importance of collaboration among higher education institutions in building a robust and sustainable innovation ecosystem in the region.
The activity also provided an opportunity to explore potential areas for future collaboration, including joint innovation programs, technology transfer initiatives, entrepreneurial capacity-building activities, and research-driven partnerships that can contribute to regional development and economic growth.
University officials emphasized that benchmarking activities such as this play a vital role in accelerating institutional learning and enhancing the capacity of universities to respond to emerging challenges and opportunities in innovation and entrepreneurship. By learning from one another's experiences and best practices, academic institutions can strengthen their ability to support innovators, researchers, and startup founders.
The collaboration further underscores the commitment of both institutions to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
As universities continue to play a pivotal role in driving innovation and socioeconomic development, the partnership between the University of Mindanao and the University of the Immaculate Conception demonstrates the value of collective action in cultivating future-ready innovators, empowering entrepreneurs, and translating knowledge into meaningful societal impact.
Through sustained collaboration and shared commitment, both institutions aim to further strengthen innovation ecosystems that support research excellence, technology commercialization, and sustainable community development in the years ahead.
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