RAISE Caraga Excels at DOST-PCAARRD's Agri-Aqua Innovation Pitch Fest 2024

Alongside the national pitching competition, the RAISE Caraga team set up a vibrant exhibit booth to showcase the region’s promising agri-aqua innovations under the Regional Agri-Aqua Innovation System Enhancement (RAISE) Program. The booth became one of the event’s main attractions, offering visitors a glimpse into the creativity and scientific excellence emerging from Caraga’s universities.

The exhibit featured an array of food and non-food products developed through the RAISE Program, including Tropical Chips Durian, Blackgold Nutribar, Sweet Potato Brownie Bites, Chayote Peanut Bar, and Chookoa Brittles Almond. Visitors were treated to free product samples, sparking curiosity and conversations about the technologies behind each product. Beyond food innovations, the booth also presented information materials on developed technologies from Food Innovation Centers (FIC) and Intellectual Property and Technology Business Management (IPTBM) offices of Caraga State University (Main and Cabadbaran Campus), North Eastern Mindanao State University (NEMSU), and Agusan del Sur State College of Agriculture and Technology (ASSCAT).

TPMS Participants Take the Lead

The exhibit was spearheaded by participants of the Technology Promotion and Marketing Series (TPMS)—a specialized training program under RAISE Project 4: Knowledge Management Hub (KMH). The TPMS equipped participants with practical skills in technology promotion, product photography, graphic design, marketing communication, and pitching, enabling them to effectively present technologies to potential investors, adopters, and collaborators.

Applying what they learned from the TPMS workshops, the KMH team meticulously curated the booth layout and design to emphasize clarity, aesthetics, and engagement. Each displayed product was complemented by visually appealing brochures, posters, and digital infographics that detailed the technology’s key features, target users, and commercialization potential.

The exhibit also served as a real-world application of KMH’s advocacy for knowledge sharing and technology visibility, bridging the gap between research outputs and the marketplace. Through interactive discussions and networking, the RAISE team was able to connect with industry partners, business representatives, and other research institutions, paving the way for potential collaborations and technology adoption.

National Recognition and Support

High-level dignitaries, including DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum, Jr., DOST-PCAARRD Executive Director Dr. Reynaldo V. Ebora, and TTPD Director Dr. Noel Catibog, visited the RAISE Caraga booth. They commended the team for their impressive display and strong commitment to advancing innovation and technology commercialization in the AANR sectors.

The booth’s success reflected the growing synergy among the RAISE component projects, particularly how the Knowledge Management Hub’s communication and marketing initiatives amplify the outputs of RAISE’s technology generators and incubators. It stood as a testament to how strategic knowledge management and promotion efforts can turn local research into opportunities for regional growth and sustainability.