The University of Mindanao (UM) through its Research and Innovation Center (RIC) continues to make strides in research and innovation as its groundbreaking project, ๐๐ฆ๐๐๐: ๐๐ข๐ด๐ต๐ฆ ๐๐๐-๐๐ข๐ด๐ฆ๐ฅ 3๐-๐๐ณ๐ช๐ฏ๐ต๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฑ๐ญ๐ข๐ด๐ต๐ช๐ค ๐๐ช๐ญ๐ข๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต ๐๐ฆ๐ช๐ฏ๐ง๐ฐ๐ณ๐ค๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ธ๐ช๐ต๐ฉ ๐๐ถ๐ณ๐ช๐ข๐ฏ-๐๐ฆ๐ณ๐ช๐ท๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐๐ข๐ณ๐ฃ๐ฐ๐ฏ ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ข๐ต๐ฆ๐ณ๐ช๐ข๐ญ๐ด, earned Third Place in the prestigious Swiss Innovation Prize Competition 2026 under the Manufacturing and Construction Category today, May 21, 2026, in Makati City, Philippines.
The recognition places the University of Mindanao among recognized innovators advancing sustainable technologies and reinforces the growing capability of Filipino researchers to contribute solutions to pressing global environmental and industrial challenges.
Led by ๐๐ง. ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐ผ๐ฃ๐๐๐ก๐ค๐ช ๐๐๐๐๐, the award-winning project is funded under the Department of Science and Technology โ Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) through the Regional Research Institution (RRI) Program.
The achievement becomes even more notable as the Swiss Innovation Prize Competition 2026 reportedly received more than 140 entries from innovators and researchers, making RePETโs recognition a significant accomplishment for both the University of Mindanao and Philippine research innovation.
RePET was conceptualized to address two major waste management concerns in the Philippines: the increasing accumulation of post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles that remain under-recycled and the large volume of durian rind waste generated across the Davao Region with limited value-added applications.
Through innovative materials engineering, the project transforms these locally abundant waste resources into reinforced thermoplastic filament for additive manufacturing or 3D printing applications. The technology utilizes recycled PET as the primary polymer matrix while incorporating graphene-like carbon nanomaterials extracted from durian rind as reinforcement material to improve mechanical and thermal properties. The innovation also presents potential conductivity advantages for advanced applications in manufacturing and construction industries.
The innovation likewise contributes to the attainment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 9 on Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, SDG 12 on Responsible Consumption and Production, and SDG 13 on Climate Action.
This recognition further highlights the University of Mindanaoโs commitment to research excellence, sustainable innovation, and transformative technologies that respond to real-world challenges. It also demonstrates how locally grounded research initiatives can generate globally competitive solutions with meaningful environmental and industrial impact.
As UM continues to strengthen its research and innovation ecosystem, achievements such as RePET underscore the institutionโs expanding role in advancing science, technology, and sustainability not only in the Philippines but also on the international stage.
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