The University of the Philippines Visayas will be collaborating with Usi Sweets Inc. (USI) for the value enhancement of the university technology “Karamilk: Spray-dried Carabao Milk Powder”.
Both parties formalized the partnership through the signing of a Research Service Agreement (RSA) in a ceremony held at the CM Building, UPV Iloilo City campus on November 7, 2023. The collaboration is part of the commercialization initiative of the UPV Technology Transfer and Business Development Office (TTBDO) to further develop the technology in terms of market acceptability.
Chancellor Clement C. Camposano represented UP Visayas while President and CEO Wilda Wuthrich Usi represented USI, witnessed by Vice Chancellor for Administration John Lorenz Belanio and Dr. Jihan Santanina S. Alumbro, technology generator and faculty of the School of Technology (SOTECH).
The agreement will focus on the enhancement of the market value of Karamilk. USI, also known as Suisse Cakery, formerly Sue’s Cake Gallery, a prominent chain of cakes and pastry shops in Iloilo City will provide assistance in the market testing of the product. One of the many features of Karamilk is that it serves as an ingredient that improves the quality of taste and adds nutritional value to baked goods and other food products.
Karamilk was generated through a DOST-PCIEERD funded project of Dr. Alumbro and her team from UPV SOTECH.
Also present in the ceremony were Mr. Elmer de Jose Usi and Ms. Jessa Fang, USI Chairman of the Board and USI General Operations Manager, respectively, Dr. Joemel Sumbing, OIC-SOTECH, Assoc. Prof. Frediezel de Leon, OIC-TTBDO on behalf of UPV TTBDO, Director Dr. Reynold Tan, and the UPV TTBDO staff.
This partnership underscores UPV’s commitment to strengthening the academe-industry linkages in creating innovative solutions that go beyond publications and research and into making societal impact through technology transfer. (With sources from Dr. Jihan Santanina Alumbro)
