State universities and colleges (SUCs) should play a bigger role in turning research into practical solutions that create jobs, improve industries and benefit more Filipinos, Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said.
Speaking at the 2026 Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) Annual Convention and General Assembly, Balisacan said SUCs are among the country’s greatest assets because they produce skilled graduates and generate research that can help address national challenges.
“Our universities continue to produce talented graduates and excellent researchers, but many still work under resource constraints that limit what they can accomplish,” Balisacan said.
He said universities should not only produce knowledge but also help transform research into technologies, products and services that improve people’s lives.
According to Balisacan, achieving this will require continued investment in research, innovation and projects that support the country’s development priorities.
He also emphasized that innovation is a shared responsibility among government, universities, businesses, civil society and development partners.
“Our challenge is to build an environment where ideas move more quickly—from the classroom to the laboratory, from the laboratory to industry, and from innovation to better lives for our people,” he said.
Balisacan said the government has already established policy frameworks to guide innovation, including the National Innovation Agenda and Strategy Document (NIASD) 2023–2032 and the Philippine Development Plan 2023–2028, which outlines strategies to improve productivity, strengthen innovation and promote inclusive economic growth.
“When these efforts move in the same direction, innovation becomes a powerful engine of productivity, competitiveness, and inclusive growth. When they do not, even good ideas struggle to create meaningful impact,” he said.
He added that the country’s development goals can only be achieved through stronger collaboration among institutions.
“Our task now is to translate them into collective action because, in the end, development is not achieved by plans alone. It is achieved by institutions that work together toward a common purpose,” Balisacan said.
