by Gab Batican, DNSC BA Comm Intern
PANABO CITY – Davao del Norte State College (DNSC) hosted the first-quarter meeting of the Innovation through Science, Technology, and Risk-Resilient Based Initiatives toward Knowledge Economy Davao (iSTRIKE) Regional Inclusive Innovation Center (RIIC) to assess its 2025 action plan on March 21, at the DNSC Gender and Development (GAD) Conference Room.
The meeting invited presidents of State Universities and Colleges in the region for insights on collaborative innovation engagements and to enhance networks between the government, industry, academe, media, and civic society organizations.
iSTRIKE Head Secretariat and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) XI Director Romeo L. Castañaga underscored the importance of institutional support, leadership stability, and funding. He emphasized that a structured evaluation ensures a more effective strategy and informed decision-making for future initiatives.
Ms. Stids Jofreylle O. Plasabas provided updates from the previous RIIC meeting, noting that the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) regional office is considering sponsoring Davao Startup Week 2025 and developing a Startup Maturity Assessment model for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
Discussions also covered iSTRIKE’s growth and expansion, highlighting increased participation from academic institutions. DNSC is among the latest state colleges to support iSTRIKE’s efforts to align innovation programs with the Philippine Innovation Act and other strategic models.
