ACADEME-INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIP IN THE PHILIPPINES: NATURE, BENEFITS AND PROBLEMS Racidon P. Bernarte Polytechnic University of the Philippines Abstract This study takes into account the level of involvement of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the Philippines, particularly those located in the National Capital Region on academe-industry partnership. Specifically, it identified the nature of Academe-Industry Partnership (AIP) of HEIs, the areas and extent of partnership, the factors which influence the partnership, the mechanism of partnership and the extent of benefits gained in the academe-industry partnership. Equally, the study covered the problems encountered by HEIs on their academe-industry partnership engagement. Key Words: Academe-Industry Partnership, Higher Education Institutions, Collaborations Introduction At the dawn of the 21 st century, people have been left with a world that is more fluid, fragmented, and multipolar than ever before creating a more diverse yet closer society. At present, they live in a globe where the national and multinational, state and market, and public and private coexist (Gupta, 2005). Collaborative efforts, therefore, among the society’s major stakeholders (the public and the private, the state and the market) should be deep enough to ensure stronghold development. In the