Davao City – Sultan Kudarat State University (SKSU) strengthened its engagement in regional innovation, entrepreneurship, internationalization, and industry collaboration through the participation of four University officials as delegates to the ASEAN Innovation Summit 2026, held on September 17–19, 2026, at the SMX Convention Center, SM Lanang Premier.
Representing SKSU at the three-day summit were Dr. Abraham S. Accad, Director for Internationalization and External Affairs, Dr. Rosita T. Rizaldo, Director for Resource Generation, Dr. Charmie L. Ancheta, Director for Technology Business Incubation Center and Realyn A. Pahunar, MAT, Director for Food Innovation and Technology Center.
The ASEAN Innovation Summit 2026 gathered government leaders, members of the diplomatic and consular corps, business executives, entrepreneurs, innovators, industry experts, and other stakeholders to discuss emerging opportunities for innovation and economic cooperation across ASEAN. The summit featured discussions encompassing women’s economic leadership, regional integration, entrepreneurship, sustainability, technology, artificial intelligence, and the growth of micro, small, and medium enterprises.
The summit highlighted key themes shaping ASEAN’s future, including women’s leadership and access to financing, BIMP-EAGA regional cooperation and cross-border business opportunities, sustainable development, MSME growth, and emerging technologies. A major highlight was the Davao Global Connect: Davao-Borneo Growth Corridor Forum 2026, which featured Vice President Sara Z. Duterte as one of the guest speakers, delivering the keynote address “Mindanao and Borneo: One Corridor, One Future.” Discussions throughout the summit also covered agribusiness and food processing, tourism and the halal industry, renewable energy, sustainable urban development, artificial intelligence in international trade, supply chain and logistics innovation, and the development of an AI-ready workforce for Industry 5.0
SKSU’s participation in the ASEAN Innovation Summit 2026 reinforces the University’s commitment to building stronger linkages with academia, government, industry, and the ASEAN innovation ecosystem. The insights and networks gained from the summit open opportunities for partnerships, innovation, technology incubation and commercialization, resource generation, and support for faculty and student innovators, further advancing SKSU’s research, entrepreneurship, and internationalization initiatives.
