March 24, 2023 – Palawan State University through Dr. Ramon M. Docto, University President, has partaken in the Ceremonial Signing of the 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 (MOU) for the Regional Inclusive Innovation in MIMAROPA (RIIM) during the Regional Development Council (RDC) of MIMAROPA first quarter meeting on March 24, 2023 at the Heritage Hotel Manila, Pasay, Philippines.

The MOU ceremonial signing of the RIIM was spearheaded and led by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) – MIMAROPA. It was attended by the regional offices of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), provincial governors, city mayors, and SUC presidents. It was the first full-member RDC meeting chaired by Gov. Presbitero J. Velasco Jr. of Marinduque. All the member agencies, province governors and regional agencies, non-government agencies, private sectors, and (SUCs) were present.

During the MOU ceremonial signing, the RDC members, such as governors, mayors, and regional agencies, signified their commitment to support RIIM and provide experts from their agencies. Moreover, during the meeting, the output of the conducted LGU-Industry-Academe Consultation-Workshop last February 8-9, 2023, served as the takeoff point for implementing the RIIM. DOST Regional Director, Dr. Ma. Josefina Abilay, walked through the RDC in the abovementioned activity and presented the output. The Key Innovation Actors were mapped by LGUs, Regional Line Agencies, State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) representatives, various Industry Sectors, and DOST attached agencies, including DOST-PCAARRD and DOST-ITDI convened and through the help of an expert facilitator.

Initially, priority commodities and products per province and the value chain constraints and possible S&T interventions to ensure that RDI endeavors are aligned and geared towards regional economic development were identified.

The Regional Inclusive Innovation in MIMAROPA (RIIM) is an initiative under the MIMAROPA Regional Research, Development, and Innovation Committee (RRDIC) that aims to institutionalize efforts in engaging the academe, industry, regional line agencies, and other relevant stakeholders and collaborate towards commercialization of market-oriented research and the development of outputs that leads to increased regional competitiveness.

RIIM was formalized through a collaborative engagement as enablers of the Innovation Ecosystem, which is the beginning of several activities toward an inclusive, innovative MIMAROPA. The RIIM aims to strengthen partnerships for the implementation of Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) activities in the region.