The journey to global innovation excellence has officially begun as the Pangasinan State University (PSU) ALIGWAS Technology Business Incubator (TBI) delegation conducts its international benchmarking visit at Thailand’s premier innovation powerhouse—the National Innovation Agency (NIA) through the initiative and assistance of Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
Rooted in University President Dr. Elbert M. Galas’ visionary Strategic Goal 2 (SG 2: Responsive and Sustainable Research, Community Extension, and Innovative Programs) and Strategic Goal 5 (SG 5: Strategic and Functional Internationalization Program), this mission aims to forge powerful global partnerships to elevate the university’s research and incubation capabilities.
Spearheading the delegation are Vice President for Research, Extension, and Innovation Dr. Razeale G. Resultay, Faculty Regent Dr. Ace John Mark P. Liwanag, PSU ALIGWAS TBI Project Leader Dr. Roseanne Agustin-Cera, TBI Core member Engr. Roy Flores, and Vice President for Local and International Affairs Dr. Renato E. Salcedo.
Welcoming the PSU team were NIA’s key leaders: Montha Kaihirun, Director for Startup Promotion Department; Karnsinee Thanarukwuttikorn, Innovation Counsellor; and Chanokchon Pleng Jaroenporn, Innovation Developer.
During the exchange, PSU showcased the Aligwas TBI’s ASENSO Incubation Framework, highlighting its focus on sustainable food systems, food upcycling, and climate-smart technologies. Meanwhile, the NIA shared their robust model for transforming Thailand into an innovation-driven economy. They emphasized a whole-of-government approach that treats innovation not just as a research activity, but as a core strategy for national development. The NIA underscored how they support innovators from the earliest stages of idea generation all the way through to commercialization, ensuring that startups have access to essential funding, investor matching, and international market linkages.
A major highlight of the discussion was the NIA’s strong collaboration with higher education institutions, where universities serve as strategic hubs for generating new technologies and nurturing entrepreneurial students. This resonated deeply with the PSU delegation, as it mirrors the university’s goal to strengthen ties with government agencies like the DOST, DTI, and CHED to create a more integrated support system. The session explored future cooperation, including inviting NIA experts as resource speakers for PSU startup summits, organizing joint knowledge-sharing sessions on innovation policy, and establishing exchange programs for faculty and student founders.
This landmark interaction sets a strong foundation for future collaborations, empowering PSU ALIGWAS TBI to further refine its programs in capacity building, strategic networking, and startup incubation.