CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Valencia City will host the Northern Mindanao Regional Innovation Program and Exhibit (NorMinRIPE) 2026, in an effort to promote inclusive innovation and strengthen the region’s innovation ecosystem

The initiative is part of the observance of National Innovation Day on April 21. In Northern Mindanao, the activity has expanded into a multi-day event to allow wider participation and presentation of innovation initiatives.

During the Ang Rehiyon Karon radio program on March 31, Mylah Faye Aurora Cariño, regional director of the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev)-10, said the activity is supported by a 2025 Regional Development Council resolution on the institutionalization of NorMinRIPE.

“Dili lang usa ka adlaw ang selebrasyon kay murag kulang gyud to celebrate and promote innovation,” Cariño said.

(It’s not just a one-day celebration because one day is simply not enough to celebrate and promote innovation.)

The 2026 event will carry the theme “Building Regional Pathways for Inclusive Innovation,” focusing on access to support systems for innovators and the use of developed innovations by communities.

“We want our celebration to be more inclusive because innovation should not be confined to urban centers. It has to be accessible to innovators across the region,” she added.

Cariño said one approach is to enable innovators in Region 10 to access support from government, private, and academic sectors, while another is to ensure that stakeholders and communities benefit from innovations.

The event will include exhibits, forums, and pitching sessions aimed at strengthening the regional innovation ecosystem. Exhibits will present product- and process-based innovations for possible adoption or commercialization.

Pitching sessions will allow innovators to present ideas to investors and partner institutions, while “reverse pitching” will allow local government units and micro, small, and medium enterprises to present challenges for innovators to address.

Cariño said research outputs from higher education institutions should be used more widely, noting that many studies and capstone projects remain unused.

“Daghan kaayo’g ideas nga wala nagamit (There are so many unutilized ideas),” she said.

She proposed creating a centralized platform where research outputs can be accessed for possible adoption and commercialization.

NorMinRIPE is implemented with government agencies, academic institutions, and private-sector partners as part of a regional innovation system.

The 2026 event is expected to bring together innovators, investors, and development partners to support innovation efforts in Northern Mindanao.

Originally held in Cagayan de Oro City, NorMinRIPE has expanded to other areas in the region. It was held in Iligan City in 2025 and will be hosted in Valencia City in 2026.

Cariño said innovation initiatives continue beyond the annual observance, with the event serving as a platform to present outputs and support partnerships. (AADS/PIA-10)