Department of Science and Technology (DOST) secretary Fortunato Dela Pena wants to increase the number of intellectual property (IP) registration in the country, saying there is “low IP registration” in the field of research and development (R&D).
As a way of encouraging researchers, the DOST provides monetary incentives for IP-registered discoveries or researches. He clarified, however, that the monetary award is only for DOST researchers. “Other R&D institutes like state universities and colleges also have their own incentive systems,” he explained.
“At DOST, we include the potential of IP registration of R&D outputs in evaluating project proposals,” Dela Pena said.
Apart from encouraging IP registration, the DOST is also helping Filipino inventors to commercialize their products.
Last year, DOST-attached agency Technology Application and Promotion Institute (TAPI) partnered with the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) to provide loan assistance to inventors.
The DOST-TAPI and LBP’s project called I-TECH (Innovation and Technology Lending Program), aims to support the commercial production of patented inventions.
TAPI director Edgar Garcia earlier noted that I-TECH is the agency’s means to help ease the investors’ burden in raising additional capital to fund the commercialization of their inventions. Those who qualify for this loan are Filipino inventors at least 21 years old and with active IP rights.
Meanwhile, Dela Pena, who also chairs the IP Office’s Advisory Council for Intellectual Property, disclosed that a National IP Strategic Plan would be launched soon. — Ma. Cristina Arayata (PNA)
