Carlos Hilado Memorial State University (CHMSU) has secured a place among the world’s most innovative institutions, ranking 253rd globally in the 2026 World University Rankings for Innovation (WURI).
This places CHMSU firmly within the Global Top 500 Innovative Universities, a recognition that goes beyond academic metrics to honor institutions creating meaningful, real-world impact through research, ethics, and community engagement.
The university also broke into the Top 100 in four specific innovation categories, competing alongside major research institutions across Asia, Europe, and the Americas.
CHMSU ranked ranked 17th for Crisis Management, 45th for Ethics and Integrity, 51st in Industrial Application, and 98th in Interdisciplinary, Convergent, and Integrated Research.
Crisis Management
CHMSU’s highest-ranked category at rank 17, this is powered by programs that protect the most vulnerable.
“Project PDL: Pagdating ng Sakuna, Dapat Tayo Laging Handa — A Capacity-Building Training Program for Persons Deprived of Liberty” trained 250 PDLs at the BJMP Talisay City Jail in disaster preparedness and basic life support, establishing a peer-led First Responder Team inside the facility. The project is led by Robert Pardillo and King Abram Cabauatan,
The “Bottle-Net Life Jacket: A Lifeline from Floating Waste,” developed by the team led by Engr. Rey Ramos, is a flotation device made from fishnets and recycled plastic bottles that costs 75% less than commercial alternatives, providing affordable emergency equipment for coastal families.
The “Solid Waste Management System with Technological Opportunities: Integrated Crisis Management and Technological Innovation Framework for Community Resilience and Sustainable Development,” led by Josephine Salillas, integrates GIS, IoT, and predictive analytics into a crisis governance platform reaching over 100,000 beneficiaries across Negros Island.
Ethics and Integrity
The university ranked 45th for the “ETHICS Program: Operationalizing Research Ethics (Ethics Trail to Hone Integrity of CHMSU Scholars)” of Research and Development Services Director Ivy Aboy.
The program institutionalizes research ethics governance aligned with the 2022 National Ethical Guidelines for Research Involving Human Participants. Through a Research Ethics Committee, college-based ethics panels, and a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedures Manual, the program embeds ethical review as a mandatory part of all human-participant research at the university.
Industrial Application
CHMSU secured 51st in this category for the “Solar Power Assembly Trainer (SPAT): Building Solar Power Competence Across Schools and Communities,” developed by Raynor Ereje.
It is a portable, research-validated teaching tool for solar energy competencies. Endorsed by solar technology experts, SPAT bridges classroom learning and practical application, with potential to address energy scarcity in remote communities by powering lights, laptops, and internet routers.
Also recognized in this category is the “Acceptability of a 3-Sectioned Spelling and Vocabulary Instructional Board in the English Performance of Students” by Vanessa Joy Judith, which achieved very high acceptability ratings across usability, durability, aesthetics, and educational value among pedagogy specialists.
Interdisciplinary, Convergent, and Integrated Research
Led by Engr. Rene Salmingo, the “Development of Feature Extraction Techniques of Motor Imagery EEG Signal for Brain-Computer Interfaces” integrates engineering, artificial intelligence, neuroscience, and rehabilitation medicine to develop assistive technology for persons with neuromuscular disorders.
The project achieved 88.6% EEG signal classification accuracy and is guided by principles of responsible AI, accessibility, and human dignity — positioning BCI as a socio-technical system that supports communication and autonomy for persons with disabilities.These achievements reflect CHMSU’s Global GREEN University thrust — Good Governance, Research-Oriented, Extension-Driven, Education for Sustainable Development, and Nation-Building — and affirm the university’s growing stature as a leading innovation-driven state university in the Philippines and globally.
