NEUST leads national dialogue on emerging technologies through 1st RIEX Summit

The Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology (NEUST) held the first-ever National Research, Innovation, and Extension (RIEX) Emerging Technologies Summit 2025 from October 22 to 24, 2025, at the NEUST Closed Gym, Sumacab Campus, Cabanatuan City.

The three-day national summit aimed to bridge the gaps between government, industry, and academia in advancing emerging technologies by bringing together higher education institutions, local government units, industry leaders, experts, and innovators from various sectors to explore the role of technology in research, innovation, and extension.

In her message, NEUST President Dr. Rhodora Jugo emphasized the importance of human-centered innovation. “This Summit reminds us that research and innovation must always have a human face, that our work must touch lives, open doors, and bring hope to those who need it most,” Dr. Jugo said. “At NEUST, our goal is simple but steadfast: to ensure that what we learn, discover, and create truly makes a difference in people’s lives.”

The summit featured keynote and plenary sessions, panel discussions, workshops, competitions, and networking activities centered on key topics such as artificial intelligence, animation, blockchain, robotics, cybersecurity, smart cities, and quantum computing in the Philippine context, all aimed at enhancing participants’ understanding of the evolving global technology landscape.

The first day opened with a keynote address on “Harnessing Emerging Technologies for Sustainable and Inclusive Futures” delivered by Engr. Antonio Edward Padre, Director of DICT Region III, on behalf of DICT Secretary Henry Rhoel Aguda.

Engr. Padre highlighted the collective role of institutions in digital transformation, stating, “The future is not built by a single agency or one leader. It is built by all of us—moving together toward one digital nation, where data flows securely across agencies, where AI and other emerging technologies help predict citizens’ needs, and where blockchain ensures transparency in transactions.”

Day one also featured discussions on the road to becoming a digital city, smart classrooms, smart city infrastructure, quantum computing, post-quantum cryptography, digital transformation, the National AI Upskilling Roadmap, and futures thinking on the Philippine AI landscape.

On the second day, Dr. Julius Caesar Sicat, Regional Director of DOST III, urged collaboration in advancing Central Luzon’s innovation ecosystem. “Let us create a future where Filipino technologies solve Filipino problems — a future where research leads to real-world impact, where innovation uplifts every community, where extension bridges knowledge and action,” Dr. Sicat said.

Day two concluded with in-depth discussions on the real-world applications of innovation, highlighting DOST-ASTI’s initiatives, DICT’s e-Government programs, and regional efforts that drive technological advancement in Central Luzon, as experts shared insights on blockchain applications, cybersecurity, smart networks, and the Philippine animation industry—all aligned with the goal of building a smarter, more inclusive digital nation.

On the final day, CHED Commissioner Dr. Desiderio Apag III delivered his keynote address titled “Harnessing Emerging Technologies for Future-Ready Philippine Higher Education.” He underscored that technology should serve as a tool for equity and empowerment in education. “The true purpose of technology in education is not to make learning faster, but to make it fairer, freer, and more meaningful,” he said, citing CHED’s ACHIEVE Agenda as a framework to promote access, innovation, and governance reforms in higher education.

The concluding sessions focused on harnessing AI, blockchain, and cybersecurity beyond conventional uses to drive national progress and technological resilience.

The summit formally concluded with a closing message from Dr. Jean Guillasper, Vice President for Research, Extension, and Training, who expressed gratitude to the organizing committee, partners, and participants for their contributions to the event’s success, while also conveying optimism for continued collaboration and support in future editions of the National RIEX Summit.

#NEUSTGLOBAL #NEUSTRET #1stNationalRIEXEmergingTechnologySummit2025 #SDG4QualityEducation #SDG9IndustryInnovationAndInfrastructure #SDG11SustainableCitiesAndCommunities #SDG16PeaceJusticeAndStrongInstitutions #SDG17PartnershipsForTheGoals