State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) must play a bigger role in transforming research into real-world solutions that create jobs and better lives for Filipinos as the country enters its next phase of development, according to the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev).
“Too often, excellent research remains inside laboratories instead of reaching farmers, entrepreneurs, manufacturers, local governments, or communities that could benefit from it,” Balisacan said at the 2026 Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) Annual Convention and General Assembly on Tuesday (July 14).
Balisacan described SUCs as “one of the country’s greatest strategic assets,” noting that they sit at the center of the nation’s efforts to develop talent, generate knowledge, and translate research into solutions that address real-world challenges.
“Our universities continue to produce talented graduates and excellent researchers, but many still work under resource constraints that limit what they can accomplish.”
The chief economist said strengthening the country’s innovation pipeline will require sustained investments in innovation, and stronger support for research aligned with national priorities.
Balisacan emphasized that innovation is not the achievement of a single individual or institution but the result of collaboration between the government, academe, industry, civil society, and development partners, with each playing a vital role. He added that when these efforts reinforce one another, innovation can truly become an engine of national development.
“Our challenge is to build an environment where ideas move more quickly—from the classroom to the laboratory, from the laboratory to industry, and from innovation to better lives for our people.”
Balisacan said key frameworks are already in place to give a shared policy direction. The National Innovation Agenda and Strategy Document (NIASD) 2023–2032 sets the direction for strengthening the country’s innovation capacity, while the Philippine Development Plan 2023–2028 translates the goals of AmBisyon Natin 2040 into medium-term strategies, investments, and reforms to promote productivity, innovation, and inclusive development.
“When these efforts move in the same direction, innovation becomes a powerful engine of productivity, competitiveness, and inclusive growth,” Balisacan said. “When they do not, even good ideas struggle to create meaningful impact.”
“Our task now is to translate them into collective action because, in the end, development is not achieved by plans alone. It is achieved by institutions that work together toward a common purpose.”
