Dept. of Trade & Industry Director Lilian Salonga and her team from the DTI-Competitiveness and Innovation Group declared UP Mindanao's research and development as "competitive and innovative" after being presented with UPMin's selected research and innovation programs on September 22, 2022. The DTI-CIG team was on a roadshow for academic partners in Davao with innovative projects which the DTI could promote and market under the DTI's RAPID growth* and the iSTRIKE** programs.

Chancellor Lyre Murao and Prof. Larry Digal led the welcome for the DTI team. Asst. Prof. Miguel Guillermo presented the UPGRADE technology business incubation with its growing network and resources. Assoc. Prof. Joel Hassan Tolentino detailed the Philippine Genome Center Mindanao’s research & development since 2018. Prof. Jose Ildefonso Rubrico reported the progress of two Artificial Intelligence research programs: the SkAI-Pinas work of labeling features from aerial images and the ASIMOV-HAWKS program of creating navigational technologies for mobile land and air devices. Dr. Melvin Pasaporte also discussed UPMin’s Lactic Acid technology project. Subsequently, Chancellor Murao signed the memorandum of understanding proffered by the DTI team to be part of their consortium under the iSTRIKE.

The DTI-CIG team was composed of Director Salonga, Asst. Dir. Jo-Dann Darong, Mr. Karl Lyndon Pacolor, chief of the Innovation and Collaboration Division, Ms. Kristine Daplin, national program manager of the RAPID Growth program, Ms. Cindy Love Falculita, national program coordinator of the Regional Inclusive Innovation Centers, and staff from DTI-XI.

*A value-chain-based and market-driven business development initiative that aims to achieve inclusive and sustainable economic development for rural farming communities

**Science, Technology, and Risk-resilient-based Initiatives toward Knowledge Economy-Davao