June 15, 2021 – A virtual ceremony to commemorate the launch of the Regional Inclusive Innovation Center Program (RIIC) new expansion site, SHINE Cagayan Valley, was attended by various partners across government, industry, and academia including Quirino State University. SHINE Cagayan Valley (Sustaining Harvest through Innovation and Nurturing Enterprise), is anchored to the citrus sector as its pilot industry to be followed by the banana sector for replication of best practices and convergence models. The SHINE Cagayan Valley is geared to serve as an instrument to promote strengthening capacity for innovation and inclusive growth in Cagayan Valley. It is implemented through strengthening linkages, mapping players and capacities, and supporting needs that fit the local industries. The Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-Region 2 has allocated Php 1 Million in funding from the 2021 DOST Regional Grants-In-Aid Program in partnership with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI)-Cagayan in commitment to its implementation and future activities. During the launching event, DOST Secretary Fortunato T. Dela Peña said that “The presence of R&D centers in the region is really a telling sign of progress and innovation, a sign that the people in Cagayan Valley is embracing science and technology”. He also mentioned that he has high hopes that initiatives like this encourage and remind people that through RIIC, it is possible to enhance performance and collaborative endeavors in the region.