The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) have launched a technology-driven initiative aimed at accelerating the adoption of sustainable innovations in the country’s fisheries sector.
The WIPO GREEN Acceleration Project, introduced last week, is designed to link climate-friendly technologies with real-world needs in coastal and fishing communities, using a structured “technology matchmaking” approach.
The program will identify priority challenges in fisheries and connect them with viable local and global solutions, while facilitating technology transfer and deployment.
At the core of the initiative is the use of WIPO GREEN, an online platform that functions as a marketplace for environmentally sustainable technologies.
The platform enables technology providers, seekers, and stakeholders to exchange solutions, data, and expertise to address climate-related challenges.
WIPO selected fisheries as the pilot sector, citing its importance to food security and livelihoods in the Philippines, as well as its exposure to climate risks.
The project will focus on deploying technologies such as climate-resilient fishing methods, digital by-catch monitoring tools, early warning systems, and traceability platforms for fish processing and certification.
IPOPHL said the initiative underscores the growing role of digital platforms and data-driven systems in environmental management and resource sustainability.
“For the Philippines, this initiative is both timely and vital. As a country highly vulnerable to climate change, we recognize that innovation must be at the heart of our actions if we are to respond to the urgent needs of our people and the planet. And through this project, we aim to strengthen technology transfer, support Filipino innovators, and promote sustainable solutions that will enhance our resilience,” said IPOPHL acting director general Nathaniel S. Arevalo.
“We call on stakeholders to actively engage with us in sharing technologies, identifying needs in the coastal communities, and forging partnerships that will translate innovation into real-world impact,” he added.
The project will be supported by Japan Patent Office funding and implemented locally with the help of Eco-Innovation Consultancy, Inc. (EICI), which will work with fishing communities to map needs and upload them to the WIPO GREEN database. The system will then match these with appropriate technologies and connect stakeholders with potential partners.
IPOPHL said the effort will also generate data on barriers and opportunities in deploying green technologies in the Philippines, feeding into broader climate and development policies.
Chamlette D. Garcia, assistant director of IPOPHL’s Documentation, Information and Technology Transfer Bureau, said the agency will continue promoting WIPO GREEN as a platform for connecting Filipino innovations with sustainability-focused applications.
