President Yepes takes part in national innovation discourse at DOST’s Inno.Venta 2025

Visayas State University (VSU) President Dr. Prose Ivy G. Yepes joined national and academic leaders as one of the panelists during Inno.Venta 2025, the country’s first national science, technology, and innovation (STI) exposition organized by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

Held on October 23–24, 2025, at Batangas State University – The National Engineering University, the event brought together state universities and colleges (SUCs), higher education institutions, the Philippine Science High School System, and private industry partners to present science-based solutions, research breakthroughs, and investment opportunities.

Dr. Yepes joined a panel that included leaders from Mindanao State University–Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT), Caraga State University (CSU), and the UP SCALE Innovation Hub of the University of the Philippines. Their discussion centered on how universities can transform academic research and patents into spinoff ventures that thrive in the market.

In her presentation, Dr. Yepes discussed how the university is moving toward becoming a leading innovation-driven institution in the Visayas, transforming research into tangible, sustainable solutions that address real-world challenges.

During the panel exchange, Dr. Yepes pointed out the realities that slow the journey from invention to enterprise. She explained that some patents remain underutilized due to limited resources, the absence of plantilla positions devoted to research and innovation, and the need for stronger technology transfer systems.

In response to a question on how universities can produce more spinoffs, Dr. Yepes said that the key lies in continuously improving the innovation ecosystem and regularly auditing the university’s technologies and assets to identify possible takers and commercial pathways.

She added that revisiting the current faculty workload structure is also worth studying, particularly to allow more time for research, extension, and innovation (REI) activities.

“Innovation requires space—both in terms of time and structure. If we want our researchers to think creatively and bring their ideas to market, we must design systems that recognize and support that kind of work.” Dr. Yepes said. 

Benchmarking visits to KIST Parks

As part of the Inno.Venta activities, the VSU delegation joined benchmarking visits to De La Salle University (DLSU) Innovation Hub and the Batangas State University (BatStateU) KIST Park. These learning visits provided a closer look at how KIST Ecozones operate as integrated spaces where universities host technology-based enterprises and engage with industry.

VSU is among the six state universities and colleges identified by DOST to establish its own KIST Park, envisioned as a special economic zone that links academia, industry, and government to accelerate technology commercialization and support startup growth.

DOST Secretary Dr. Renato U. Solidum Jr., in his message during the expo, stressed the importance of preparing students not only for research but also for employment and entrepreneurship, saying that the ultimate goal is to equip graduates with skills that secure meaningful jobs and build enterprises after college.

With its expanding innovation network and a clear direction for research translation, VSU continues to position itself as a catalyst for science-driven development in the Visayas, building systems where ideas can grow into enterprises that generate real economic and social impact.

This article is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: Quality Education; SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth; SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, and; SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.

• Next