Privacy Policy
Last updated: August 16, 2026
1. Introduction
HIRAYA (Harnessing Innovation, Research, and Analytics for a Yielder and Adaptive Knowledge Ecosystem Management System) is a regional knowledge management platform operated by the MindSET Consortium in partnership with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Region X through the Local-GIA Fund. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your information when you use the HIRAYA platform at hiraya.mindset.ph.
2. Information We Collect
We collect the following types of information: • Account Information: Full name, email address, role, and institution affiliation. • Profile Data: Academic credentials, field of specialization, expertise keywords, research interests, ORCID, and scholarly profile links (Google Scholar, ResearchGate). • Content Submissions: Research project details, intellectual property records, extension program information, industry problem statements, startup applications, and partnership requests. • Usage Data: Pages visited, features used, and interactions with the platform for analytics purposes. • Authentication Data: Google SSO tokens used to verify your identity during sign-in.
3. How We Use Your Information
Your information is used to: • Create and manage your HIRAYA account. • Display your public researcher or institutional profile to facilitate collaboration. • Process and review startup applications, cohort enrollments, and evaluation records. • Match industry problems with academic researchers and facilitate partnership requests. • Generate aggregated, non-identifiable regional innovation statistics for the Regional Development Council. • Send platform notifications and updates related to your submissions. • Maintain platform security and prevent misuse.
4. Data Sharing and Disclosure
HIRAYA is designed as a collaborative platform. Your public profile information (name, institution, expertise, research interests) is visible to other authenticated users to enable collaboration. We do not sell your personal information. We may share data with: • Partner institutions and government agencies (RDC, DOST, DICT) for reporting and coordination purposes. • Industry partners responding to problem statements you have posted. • Service providers who help us operate the platform (e.g., hosting, analytics), under appropriate confidentiality obligations. • Government authorities where required by law.
5. Data Security
We implement industry-standard security measures including encrypted authentication via Google Single Sign-On, secure data storage, and role-based access controls. Access to sensitive data is restricted to authorized administrators. However, no system is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute protection of your information.
6. Data Retention
We retain your information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide our services. You may request deletion of your account and associated data at any time. Certain records (such as published research, granted IP, or completed partnership agreements) may be retained for institutional and legal record-keeping purposes even after account closure.
7. Your Rights
You have the right to: • Access the personal information we hold about you. • Correct inaccurate or incomplete information. • Request deletion of your account and personal data. • Control the visibility of your profile and research outputs. • Withdraw consent for data processing at any time. To exercise these rights, contact us using the information provided below.
8. Cookies and Tracking
HIRAYA uses essential cookies to maintain your authentication session and platform functionality. We may use analytics tools to understand platform usage patterns. These tools do not collect personally identifiable information beyond what is necessary for platform operation.
9. Third-Party Links
The platform may contain links to third-party websites (e.g., ORCID, Google Scholar, ResearchGate, institutional websites). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites and encourage you to review their privacy policies.
10. Children's Privacy
HIRAYA is intended for use by academic researchers, institutional representatives, industry professionals, and government stakeholders. The platform is not directed at children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect information from children.
11. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify users of significant changes through the platform or via email. Continued use of the platform after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
12. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or your data, please contact the HIRAYA project team through the MindSET Consortium at the DICT Northern Mindanao office.