Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

Background

Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure underscores the importance of building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and fostering innovation as key drivers of economic growth and sustainable development. Caraga State University (CSU) recognizes this goal as central to its institutional mandate of generating science-based knowledge, fostering innovation, and promoting technology-driven development across the Caraga Region and the Philippines.

In line with the Times Higher Education (THE) Sustainability Impact Ratings Methodology 2026, CSU has systematically advanced its research and innovation ecosystem through strengthened linkages between its Research, Development, Innovation and Extension (RDIE) system, the Technology Business Incubation (TBI), the Technology Transfer and Licensing Office (TTLO), and the university’s extension programs. Together, these offices contribute to SDG 9 by developing new technologies, producing intellectual property assets, facilitating startup incubation, and promoting industry collaborations that lead to tangible economic and societal impacts.

9.1 Research on industry, innovation and infrastructure

9.1.1 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure: publications

Caraga State University (CSU) demonstrates strong research performance and institutional commitment to advancing industry, innovation, and infrastructure, as reflected in its growing volume of publications and technology outputs. CSU’s research portfolio focuses on engineering, applied sciences, and technology-driven innovations that directly contribute to resilient infrastructure, sustainable industrialization, and inclusive innovation ecosystems—core themes under UN SDG 9.

In 2024, CSU achieved a remarkable milestone with 162 Scopus-indexed publications and 100 completed research outputs, marking a significant increase in research productivity and visibility. Among these, 14 research outputs were successfully adopted by industries and local government units (LGUs)—demonstrating tangible translation of research into real-world solutions. These adoptions include technologies in renewable energy systems, agricultural mechanization, smart monitoring solutions, materials science innovations, and digital infrastructure for governance and local industries.

Table 9.1.1. List of Research Outputs Adopted by Industry and Local Government Units (LGUs)

CSU’s applied research in smart and resilient infrastructure has produced outputs on Internet of Things (IoT)-based monitoring systems, green construction materials, and automation technologies that support the transition toward sustainable cities and communities. Research in renewable and clean energy has resulted in publications and prototypes on solar photovoltaic systems, biogas conversion, and bioenergy from agricultural residues, supporting the national goal for low-carbon innovation. Similarly, agricultural and biosystems engineering studies have focused on postharvest mechanization, automated processing equipment, and materials development for food and agri-industrial applications.

Beyond publication output, CSU’s Research, Development, Innovation, and Extension (RDIE) system amplifies the impact of research through knowledge transfer and capacity-building programs. The university’s extension initiatives have translated laboratory results into community-level technologies, benefitting farmers, MSMEs, and local entrepreneurs. In 2024, extension programs on Geographic Information Systems (GIS), solar PV installation and maintenance, robotics, and machine systems diagnostics reached hundreds of practitioners, students, and partner agencies across Caraga Region, strengthening local technical capacity for innovation and industry competitiveness.

CSU’s innovation infrastructure serves as the physical and intellectual backbone of its SDG 9 commitment. Anchored on the FabLab Caraga, Caraga Food Innovation Center (CFIC), Packaging and Labelling Innovation Center (PLIC), and Technology Business Incubation (TBI) facility—alongside specialized RDIE centers and laboratories—CSU provides an integrated platform for product design, prototyping, materials testing, and business incubation. These facilities not only support academic research and publication but also enable technology validation, IP protection, and market readiness assessment, ensuring that innovations contribute to both scientific advancement and economic development.

The Technology Transfer and Licensing Office (TTLO), through its IP Portfolio and RAISE Caraga Innovation Program, further strengthens CSU’s research-to-commercialization pathway by managing patentable inventions, utility models, and industrial designs, many of which arise from published research projects. This integrated approach links publication performance to technology-based entrepreneurship and industry partnership, aligning with the university’s vision of becoming a science and innovation hub in Mindanao.

Collectively, CSU’s initiatives in research publication, technology development, and knowledge diffusion underscore its role in advancing SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, by fostering a research-driven innovation ecosystem that supports sustainable growth, regional competitiveness, and inclusive industrialization.

Table 9.1.2. List of Scopus-indexed publications (2020–2024) tagged under Engineering, ICT, Materials Science, Chemistry, Infrastructure, and Innovation.

Mode of Verification (MOV):

• Scopus-Indexed Publications (2024) – RDIE Annual Report 2024
• Technology Adoption Records – CSU TTLO IP Portfolio
• IP Commercialization and Product Innovations
  CSU IP Products
• Innovation Facilities and Platforms
  • FabLab Caraga Website
  • FabLab Caraga Facebook Page
  • Caraga Food Innovation Center (CFIC)
  • Packaging and Labelling Innovation Center (PLIC)
  • Technology Business Incubation (TBI) Navigatu
    

Supporting Data Sheet
 Mode of Verification Summary Spreadsheet

9.2 Patents Citing University Research

9.2.1 Number of patents citing research

Patents that cite university research serve as a key global measure of how academic discoveries influence industrial innovation and technological development. Rather than focusing solely on the university’s own patents, this indicator assesses how CSU’s published research outputs are recognized and cited by external patent documents worldwide, as indexed in databases such as the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Patentscope, Espacenet (EPO), and the ASEAN IP Register.

At the institutional level, CSU’s Technology Transfer and Licensing Office (TTLO) also recorded an expanding IP portfolio, filing a total of 13 new intellectual property assets in 2024. This portfolio includes:

• 8 patent applications,
• 4 trademarks, and
• 1 industrial design registration,

marking a 25% increase from the previous year. This growth reflects CSU’s intensified support for patent drafting, prior art search, and IP valuation under the Regional Agri-Aqua Innovation System Enhancement (RAISE) Caraga Program and its strengthened Intellectual Property and Technology Business Management (IP-TBM) system.

The TTLO’s continued engagement with faculty-researchers resulted in the preparation of 25 Patent Analysis and Search (PAS) reports, ensuring that inventions developed by CSU researchers meet national and international novelty and inventive-step requirements. These efforts have led to several high-value patent filings, including:

• Vehicle Monitoring Method (smart mobility and IoT-based traffic system),
• Fish Attractor Device (for sustainable aquaculture and fisheries),
• Vegetable-Based Frozen Dessert (food innovation and health product development), and
• Mixture of Plant Extracts for Hair Growth Promotion (cosmeceutical formulation).

Together, these technologies illustrate CSU’s cross-sectoral research impact spanning agriculture, environment, food technology, and engineering, with potential industrial applications supported by both local and global patent citations.

Beyond patents, CSU also registered four (4) copyright materials in 2024, covering instructional modules and field guides in Biology, Genetics, Field Studies, and the Guide to Philippine Medicinal Plants Utilized by Butuanon—underscoring the university’s support for educational innovation and knowledge dissemination. In parallel, two trademarks were successfully registered: the Caraga Food Innovation Center (CFIC) mark and the RAISE Caraga Program logo, both of which contribute to strengthening CSU’s institutional brand identity as an innovation leader in Mindanao.

The trend below (Figure 9.2-1) illustrates the number of intellectual property (IP) applications filed or granted to CSU from 2019 to 2024. Over the six-year period, CSU consistently produced between 7 and 8 IP filings per year, encompassing patents, utility models, industrial designs, trademarks, and copyrights. The notable increase in 2024 highlights the university’s evolving culture of IP protection and technology transfer, driven by institutional capacity building and the integration of IP awareness in research programming.

Figure 9.2-1

This consistent IP generation reflects CSU’s strengthening position as an emerging research university contributing to national and regional innovation ecosystems. It demonstrates how university-generated research is becoming increasingly influential to industry and technology development, aligning with the targets of SDG 9.5 (enhancing scientific research and upgrading technological capabilities of industrial sectors).

The figure below illustrates the trend of intellectual property (IP) applications filed by Caraga State University from 2019 to 2024. Over the six-year period, the University maintained consistent IP-generation activity, averaging 7–8 patent or utility-model filings per year, alongside regular submissions for trademarks, copyrights, and industrial-design registrations. A notable rise in 2024 reflects the TTLO’s intensified support for patent drafting, prior-art searching, and technology disclosure evaluation under the University’s strengthened research and innovation framework. This sustained performance demonstrates CSU’s growing capacity to translate research outputs into protectable intellectual assets that contribute to industry and societal innovation.

Figure 9.2-2

As evidence of CSU’s expanding innovation output, Table 9.2.1 summarizes the patents granted to the university up to 2024, reflecting its sustained efforts in translating research into protectable technologies.

Table 9.2.1. List of Patent Grants of CSU as of 2024

Moreover, Table 9.2-2 presents the list of intellectual property applications assisted by CSU for external clients, reflecting the university’s role in extending IP services beyond its own researchers.

Table 9.2-2. List of Assisted IP Applications (External Client)

Mode of Verification (MOV):

• Caraga State University TTLO Report (2024): Institutional IP portfolio and annual filings – Document Link
• CSU IP Products Page:
  https://www.raisecaraga.org/products-and-services/ip-products
• WIPO Patentscope Search (Caraga State University):
  https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/result.jsf?_vid=P22-MHSVON-94025
• Espacenet Patent Search (EPO Database):
  https://worldwide.espacenet.com/patent/search?q=Caraga%20State%20University
• ASEAN IP Register:
  https://ip-register.aseanip.org/wopublish-search/public/patents?0

9.3 University Spin-offs

9.3.1 Number of university spin offs

Caraga State University (CSU) continues to strengthen its institutional mechanisms for research commercialization, innovation-driven enterprise creation, and technology-based entrepreneurship. In 2024, CSU made significant strides in formalizing its University Spin-off Policy, which establishes the framework for creating, managing, and monitoring spin-off companies that arise from university-generated intellectual property.

The draft Spin-off Policy, developed by the Technology Transfer and Licensing Office (TTLO) under the Innovation and Technology Support Office (ITSO), was completed and internally reviewed in 2024. The policy is set for submission to the Board of Regents (BOR) for formal approval in 2025. It outlines comprehensive procedures for:

• Evaluating technology readiness and market potential prior to spin-off formation,
• Determining ownership structures and equity-sharing arrangements,
• Regulating conflict of interest, faculty involvement, and leave privileges, and
• Defining institutional monitoring and post-spin-off reporting mechanisms.

Although CSU currently has no formally registered spin-offs as of 2024 (pending policy adoption), the University has built a robust pre-spin-off environment through its Technology Business Incubation (TBI) system and technology commercialization programs. The university’s incubators—Navigatu TBI and TARA TBI—serve as primary platforms for transforming early-stage technologies into viable business ventures and potential future spin-offs.

Through these TBIs, 15 active startup teams originating from CSU research and innovation activities are undergoing incubation and market validation. These include:

Table 9.3.1. List of Active Incubatees under Navigatu and TARA TBI (2024)

These startups, composed of faculty innovators, student-researchers, and community entrepreneurs, are in various stages of technology prototyping, intellectual property protection, and business model refinement. The diversity of their focus—from smart agriculture, aquaculture, and renewable energy to food innovation and AI applications—reflects CSU’s multidisciplinary approach to fostering innovation-led enterprise development.

Two technologies have already progressed beyond incubation toward technology licensing and pre-spin-off commercialization:

1. The Sago Pith Rasping Machine, developed through CSU’s Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering program and licensed to Sanico Fabrication and Machineries; and
2. The Herb-Fruit Blend Functional Beverage, which has undergone market validation and packaging support through the Caraga Food Innovation Center (CFIC) and Packaging and Labelling Innovation Center (PLIC).

These cases represent functioning prototypes of CSU’s spin-off pipeline, where technologies generated internally have transitioned into licensed, market-oriented enterprises—serving as models for future spin-off structures under the forthcoming policy.

Furthermore, under the Regional Agri-Aqua Innovation System Enhancement (RAISE) Caraga Program, CSU expanded its innovation support ecosystem, mentoring 47 incubatees across Caraga Region. These incubatees received assistance in intellectual property registration, prototyping, financial modelling, and market linkages, demonstrating CSU’s regional leadership in supporting innovation-driven MSMEs and technology startups that could evolve into formal spin-offs.

CSU’s commercialization strategy is guided by multi-level governance and partnership mechanisms, involving collaborations with DOST-PCAARRD, IPOPHL, CHED, and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Through the TTLO, CSU facilitates legal and technical support for startups through Technology Licensing Agreements (TLAs), Memoranda of Agreement (MOAs) with incubatees, and mentoring programs on business registration, IP valuation, and investment readiness.

These accomplishments collectively indicate that CSU has achieved operational readiness for university spin-off establishment—supported by policy, incubation capacity, and active technology transfer. Once the Spin-off Policy is approved and implemented, CSU is expected to formalize its first batch of spin-offs by 2025–2026, consistent with the definition of spin-offs under THE Impact Rankings SDG 9.3.

MOV:

4. Published Commercialization Activities on CSU website.

• Technology negotiation meeting with SANICO Fabrication and Machineries

• Technology Licensing Agreement between CSU and SANICO Fabrication and Machineries (a technology by ACMEC Pro incubatee)

9.4 Research Income from Industry and Commerce (Year: 2024)

9.4.1 Indicator: Research income from industry and commerce per academic staff

Caraga State University (CSU) has continued to demonstrate a strong capacity to attract and manage research income from industry and commerce, signaling increasing private‐sector confidence in the University’s research expertise and applied innovation ecosystem. This metric reflects the ability of CSU’s academic units—particularly in the STEM and applied sciences disciplines—to engage directly with commercial, industrial, and enterprise partners in developing technologies and solutions responsive to regional and national development needs.

In 2024, CSU managed a total of ₱107 million in externally funded research and development projects, with a 91.58% utilization rate, reflecting high efficiency in fund implementation and delivery. Of this total, ₱1,272,049.18 represented income directly derived from commercialization and licensing revenues—including technology licensing fees and research service payments from industry clients. This marks a substantial increase compared to the previous reporting period, indicating growing success in translating academic research into industrially relevant applications.

CSU’s industry–academe engagements were anchored on its Policy on Industry–Academe R&D Engagement and Funding Transparency, approved and implemented through the Office of the Vice President for Research, Development, and Extension (OVPRDIE). The policy promotes co-investment models and transparent reporting mechanisms that encourage industry participation in collaborative research.

In 2024, 36 active partnerships were maintained with private enterprises, cooperatives, and local government units, formalized through Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), Memoranda of Agreement (MOAs), and joint R&D contracts. These partnerships span multiple thematic areas:

• Engineering and Smart Systems (STEM): Collaborations with EQUI-PARCO, DA-BAFE, and LGUs of Mambajao and Oroquieta City on MapX—an IoT-based smart infrastructure mapping and governance system.
• Agri-Food Systems and Process Optimization: Joint projects with the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), FARMS Consortium, and Sanico Fabrication & Machineries for agricultural mechanization, value-added product processing, and the Sago Pith Rasping Machine technology.
• Environmental and Renewable Energy Solutions: Partnerships under DOST–CEST and DOST Region X, focusing on solar-powered systems, waste-to-energy technologies, and sustainable materials research.
• Educational and Public Sector Innovation: Collaborations with DepEd and local government units for customized digital systems, GIS training, and learning management solutions.

Through these collaborations, CSU has not only attracted industry-based R&D income but has also built mutually beneficial networks that enhance curriculum relevance, faculty development, and graduate employability. The Caraga Food Innovation Center (CFIC) and the Packaging and Labelling Innovation Center (PLIC) play a pivotal role by providing contract research, product testing, and prototyping services for partner MSMEs, thereby generating industry-linked research income and supporting the local innovation ecosystem.

CSU’s ability to secure and effectively utilize research income from industry highlights its growing maturity as a regional innovation hub and its alignment with UN SDG Targets 9.5 and 9.B, which emphasize strengthening scientific research and fostering domestic technology development. The significant commercialization income (₱1.27 M) and numerous active R&D partnerships demonstrate CSU’s operational integration of public–private collaboration, ensuring that academic research generates measurable economic and societal value.

These achievements reinforce CSU’s transition from a grant-driven institution to one that increasingly leverages industry trust, applied research contracts, and commercialization opportunities. The University’s innovation facilities, including CFIC, PLIC, and the Fablab Caraga, provide the research infrastructure necessary for industry-responsive experimentation, prototyping, and technology transfer.

MOV:

1. RDIE Annual Report 2024 (pages 47 and 95): Research funding summary and list of active partners.
2. OVPRDIE Annual Accomplishment Report 2024: Research utilization and income breakdown.
3. Technology Transfer and Licensing Office (TTLO) Financial Records 2024: Commercialization and licensing income (₱1,272,049.18).
4. MOUs and MOAs with industry partners (EQUI-PARCO, DA-BAFE, LGU Mambajao, LGU Oroquieta, FARMS Consortium).

• • MOU with BCCCIFI,

• • Industry partners: FARMS_MOA_CSU x SLSU.pdf
  • MapX_MOA_CSU x LGU Mambajao.pdf
  • MapX_MOA_CSU x LGU OROQUIETA_PHASE2.pdf

5. Approved Policy on Industry–Academe R&D Engagement and Funding Transparency.

• IP Policy &
• Technology Transfer Protocol

6. Collection Report (2015–Aug 2024): Copyrighted Systems and Instructional Materials.

Synthesis and Conclusion

Caraga State University’s 2024 performance under SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure demonstrates a well-integrated ecosystem of research, innovation, and extension that effectively advances sustainable industrialization and inclusive infrastructure development in the Caraga Region. The synergistic collaboration among the Research, Development, Innovation and Extension (RDIE) System, the Technology Business Incubation (TBI) programs, the Technology Transfer and Licensing Office (TTLO), and the Extension Services Division reflects CSU’s holistic strategy of transforming scientific research into tangible economic, technological, and societal impact.

In 2024, CSU achieved measurable progress across multiple innovation indicators. The university produced 162 Scopus-indexed publications, 100 completed research outputs, and 14 technologies adopted by industries and LGUs, generating ₱1.27 million in commercialization and licensing income and maintaining 36 active R&D partnerships with industry, cooperatives, and government agencies. Its innovation infrastructure—anchored on the FabLab Caraga, Caraga Food Innovation Center (CFIC), Packaging and Labelling Innovation Center (PLIC), and Navigatu and TARA TBIs—has enabled faculty researchers and startups to engage in applied research, prototyping, and technology commercialization aligned with both regional and national innovation priorities.

CSU’s continued development of its Spin-off Policy, Industry–Academe R&D Engagement Policy, and Funding Transparency Protocol reinforces its institutional readiness for university spin-off creation, private-sector co-investment, and long-term innovation governance. Through these policies, CSU is embedding innovation and entrepreneurship as integral components of academic practice—ensuring that research outputs evolve into market-ready, socially beneficial technologies.

Overall, CSU’s performance under SDG 9 highlights a forward-looking, data-driven commitment to sustainable innovation. The University’s achievements reflect strong institutional alignment with the Philippine Innovation Act (RA 11293), the Technology Transfer Act (RA 10055), and the UN SDG 9 targets (9.1–9.B)—specifically promoting infrastructure resilience, technological capacity building, and sustainable industrial growth.

Moving forward, CSU aims to:

• Refine its research and IP data management systems to strengthen evidence-based reporting for THE Impact Rankings and other global benchmarks;
• Intensify private-sector R&D collaboration by scaling industry-funded projects and joint research contracts; and
• Expand its regional innovation ecosystem through capacity building, technology diffusion, and policy integration within the RAISE Caraga Network.

These initiatives ensure CSU’s continued leadership as a regional innovation hub—advancing science-based solutions, nurturing innovation-driven enterprises, and contributing to sustainable, inclusive economic growth in the Caraga Region and beyond.