11 March 2026

CLARK CITY — The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) convened the SDG Action Summit: Higher Education, Science, and Technology on March 11, 2026 at the SMX Convention Center Clark, bringing together leaders from local and international government, academia, and industry to strengthen collaboration toward achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Held under the theme “Towards a Unified Higher Education Pathway for Achieving the SDGs,” the summit provided a platform for multi-sectoral dialogue and cooperation to drive innovation-led growth and national development. It marked the second day of the three-day Higher Education Summit, which focuses on aligning academic programs, research, and innovation with national science, technology, and innovation priorities.

During the program, CHED and DOST formally unveiled key initiatives to strengthen research and innovation. This included the MOU signing between CHED and DOST-PCAARRD for the Technology Business Incubation Program, and the introduction of the Philippine Technology Evaluation and Standards for Testing (PHITEST), aimed at enhancing testing infrastructure and boosting the global competitiveness of Filipino innovations.

CHED Chairperson Shirley Agrupis underscored the role of higher education at the forefront of achieving the SDGs. “The Philippines already has the institutions, the talent, and the knowledge base necessary to accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals. What we must do now is align them more deliberately and mobilize them strategically,” Agrupis said.

DOST Secretary Renato Solidum added, “The Sustainable Development Goals cannot be achieved by any nation alone. Science thrives on collaboration, through partnerships with research institutions, universities, international organizations, local government units, and the private sector, the Philippines ensures that scientific discoveries become tools for national and global impact.”

The summit gathered officials from government agencies, leaders of State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), private Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), and industry partners. Discussions focused on policy convergence, research excellence, and developing future-ready skills through stronger industry–academe–government collaboration. The fireside chat and panel discussion featured esteemed officials from DOST, the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DepDev), Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities (PASUC), Association of Local Colleges and Universities (ALCU), University of the Philippines (UP), Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), and Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU). Also present to provide global perspectives on SDG solutions were representatives from the UNESCO National Commission, the National Secretariat of the SDGs under the National Development Planning Agency of Indonesia, and Sunway University of Malaysia.

Through these initiatives, CHED and DOST aim to establish a clearer pathway for knowledge creation, innovation, and technology adoption, supporting the transformation of Philippine industries and the country’s role in the global knowledge economy.