Central Mindanao University Academic Paradise of the South
Sustaining its momentum in innovation and intellectual property (IP) excellence, Central Mindanao University (CMU) has once again secured a place among the country’s top-performing institutions, earning recognition as one of the 11 Palladium Awardees at the 2026 ITSO Presidents’ Summit and General Assembly.
This year, CMU achieved its sixth consecutive Platinum Award and second consecutive Palladium Award—the highest distinction conferred by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) to members of the Innovation and Technology Support Offices (ITSO) network. The university was also as named one of only four repeat Palladium awardees nationwide, underscoring its sustained leadership in technology transfer and IP development.
The award was received by University President Dr. Rolito G. Eballe and Office of Innovation and Intellectual Property Technology Business Management (OIPTBM) Director Dr. Vellorimo J. Suminguit, whose leadership has been instrumental in advancing the university’s IP initiatives. Dr. Suminguit also presented CMU’s best practices in IP management during the summit. They were joined by Dr. Gamaliela A. Dumancas, Mr. Ariel R. Balinas, and Mr. Sam David D. Tejada.
In a separate interview, Dr. Eballe emphasized that the recognition reflects more than just achievement, pointing to the long-term dedication behind CMU’s growing portfolio of intellectual property and innovation initiatives. He noted that the award embodies the university’s efforts to translate research and creative outputs into protected and impactful innovations.
“What makes this afternoon’s Palladium Award for our 2025 accomplishments meaningful is not just the recognition—it is the journey behind it,” Dr. Eballe said. “It reflects long hours of translating research and artistic or design outputs into intellectual property, of mentoring faculty and students to think beyond publication, and of believing that innovation from Mindanao can stand confidently on the national stage.”
He further underscored that the recognition represents a shared institutional achievement and a shift in mindset within the academic community.
“This is not just a win for the university,” he added. “It is a reminder that when we take our ideas seriously—when we protect them, nurture them, and share them responsibly—we begin to change the narrative of who we are and what we can contribute. Cheers to our IPTBM group and to all our partners.”
This latest recognition builds on CMU’s strong track record in innovation. In 2025, the university made history as one of the first few State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) in the country to receive the Palladium Award, granted for achieving five consecutive years of Platinum-level performance (2020–2024).
The recognition also highlights the collective efforts of the CMU-OIPTBM and its partner programs, particularly the CMU-Regional Agri-Aqua Innovation System Enhancement (CMU-RAISE) initiative. These include the RAISE X Summit, which gathered stakeholders to advance agri-aqua innovations, and the Agribusiness Mentoring Series (ABMS), which trained over 30 participants in entrepreneurship, IP valuation, business planning, and enterprise development. [Iyren Dalipe Neri with information from CMU-OIPTBM]
