A major milestone to strengthen Northern Mindanao's research, development, and innovation (RDI) ecosystem was achieved with the official launch of HIRAYA or the Harnessing Innovation, Research, and Analytics for a Yielder and Adaptive Knowledge Ecosystem Management System during the opening ceremony of the 2026 Regional Science, Technology, and Innovation Week (RSTW) at the Cong. Pedro P. Romualdo Gymnasium in Mambajao, Camiguin on July 22, 2026.
The launch, held simultaneously with the opening of the four-day RSTW celebration, introduced HIRAYA as Northern Mindanao's first unified, centralized knowledge management platform designed to connect researchers, innovators, government agencies, academic institutions, startups, industries, and communities across Region X.
Developed under the leadership of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the lead agency for Knowledge & RDI Infrastructure Management (KRIM) Subcommittee of the Regional Research, Development, and Innovation Committee under the Regional Development Council (RDC) X, HIRAYA aims to address long-standing challenges in collaboration within the region's innovation ecosystem.
In an interview, Engr. James Kevin M. Sagocsoc, Provincial Officer of DICT Camiguin at the same time the Project Lead of this Initiative, HIRAYA was conceptualized to eliminate fragmented efforts among innovation stakeholders.
“Technically, in Region 10, we do have plenty of resources, we talk about human resource, policies, startups, and talents, but we are not working together, we still have gaps that need to be addressed. That's why we conceptualize HIRAYA, it is a unified platform where all resources from the different provinces in Region 10 when it comes to RDI is present,” Engr. Sagocsoc said.
The platform centralizes research outputs, faculty expertise, intellectual property information, industry partnerships, and regional innovation data to support evidence-based decision-making and foster stronger collaboration among stakeholders.
Sagocsoc emphasized that HIRAYA serves a wide range of users.
“HIRAYA platform will benefit plenty of stakeholders, kasali na do’n ‘yong innovators, startups, researchers, policy makers, the [local] government, and the academic institutions.”
Among the platform's flagship features is the Problem Bank, which bridges the gap between industry needs and available technologies by connecting businesses with researchers and innovators who can provide appropriate solutions. In essence, members of the public post or upload RDI-related challenges and gaps and crowdsource ready-to-adopt solutions, matching MSMEs, industry, and government with startups and innovators in the region.
“One of the best features we are developing or we completed in [the] phase 1 of HIRAYA is the Problem Bank feature. Technically, if you're an industry partner, MSME, and you want to enhance your business but you don't have the technology, here comes ‘Juan,’ who has this kind of technology, but they aren't meeting because there is no centralized platform, so, HIRAYA will address that one," Sagocsoc continued.
HIRAYA also serves as a resource portal for researchers seeking funding opportunities from various government agencies.
“If you're a researcher looking for funds, you can visit HIRAYA, there you can see fundings from different government agencies such as the Department of Trade and Industry, DOST, DICT, and many more. If you're a lawmaker or you work in the government and you want to create a data-driven policy, you can visit HIRAYA for data, those are the initial features of HIRAYA that everyone in the innovation ecosystem can utilize.”
Beyond serving institutional stakeholders, HIRAYA is designed as a public platform that encourages broader participation in innovation and regional development.
“HIRAYA is not limited to the members of RRDIC or the Regional Research Development and Innovation Committee, it means that not only the academe, the [local] government, and the industry can collaborate, but also the community. The quadruple helix approach will be streamlined through HIRAYA,” he added.
Engr. Sagocsoc likewise shared that future enhancements will expand the platform's capabilities through partnerships with more government agencies and the private sector.
“Technically, we'll be tapping other agencies and private sectors to gather important data that is available to them that we can integrate to HIRAYA. And it will also be useful for other sectors.”
He underscored that the platform is freely accessible to everyone.
“HIRAYA is open to the public and was developed for public use.”
Also present at the launching ceremony are DOST executive officials, including DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr., DOST Undersecretary for Regional Operations Engr. Sancho A. Mabborang, and DOST Assistant Secretary for Countryside Development Ma. Teresa B. De Guzman.
The launch of HIRAYA reinforces the region's commitment to building a more connected, collaborative, and data-driven innovation ecosystem, supporting the goals of the RSTW to promote science, technology, and innovation as drivers of sustainable and inclusive development in Northern Mindanao. The public may access the HIRAYA Knowledge Management Portal by visiting https://hiraya.mindset.ph/.
The Regional Science, Technology, and Innovation Week (RSTW) is an annual event organized by the DOST regional offices across 17 regions. This celebration showcases local technologies, research and development (R&D) projects, and innovative initiatives that connect communities, local industries, and stakeholders with science-based solutions. These efforts promote inclusive, sustainable, and resilient development in the region. The RSTW is one of the major scientific events leading up to the National Science, Technology, and Innovation Week (NSTW) celebration, which will be held in General Santos City in November. For more information, visit www.dost.gov.ph or the National Science, Technology, and Innovation Week (NSTW) Facebook page. (By Abigael S. Omaña, DOST-STII)
