TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte - The Five Shepherds Corporation of Baybay City received the Best Licensee Award from the Department of Science and Technology Region VIII (DOST R-8) during the Innovation and Technology Transfer Summit Visayas 2025 held on September 5 at the Summit Hotel, Tacloban City. In the same event, Visayas State University (VSU) was recognized as the Best Licensor for its continued efforts in advancing technology innovation and transfer across the region.

The award underscores Five Shepherds’ accomplishment in expanding the market for licensed technologies while fostering community enterprise growth.

This success builds on the steady groundwork of VSU’s Philippine Rootcrop Research and Training Center (PhilRootcrops), which has partnered with the corporation to bridge the gap between research and agri-enterprise development. As an incubatee of the center, Five Shepherds has adopted technologies such as the portable vacuum fryer and extruder for the production of PhilRootcrops’ signature products, including vacuum-fried Sweet Potato and Cassava Chippy.

As an active partner of the VSU Technology Business Incubator (TBI), Five Shepherds continues to promote product scalability by fabricating machines for commercial optimization. Beyond supplying technology, the corporation also ensures a wider reach for PhilRootcrops’ innovations, thereby enhancing the rootcrop value chain in the region.

This partnership highlights the integration of research and technology development in support of science-based solutions in crop utilization, strengthening capacity-building livelihoods, and agricultural growth.

The DOST R-8 Innovation and Technology Transfer Summit Visayas 2025 serves as an avenue for showcasing research breakthroughs and fostering linkages among leading institutions and industry innovators. Through the TechGrow Exhibit, the summit highlights emerging technologies that pave the way for wider adoption and contribute to advancing inclusive and sustainable regional development.

This article aligns with Sustainable Development Goals No.: 2 – Zero Hunger, 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth, 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, 17 – Partnership for the Goals