March.5,2019
In an effort to improve and boost technology assessment, the Technology Application and Promotion Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-TAPI) in partnership with the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD) conducted the “First Technology Assessment and Intellectual Property (IP) Rights Protection Forum for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources (AANR) Technologies,” on 25 January 2019 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), Pasay City.
Speakers of the 1st Technology Assessment and IPR Protection Forum in AANR on 25 January 2018 at the PICC, Pasay City
The forum aims to foster and strengthen the current trends in generation and commercialization as well as IP Protection of AANR technologies in the country.
“This event successfully brought together some of the leading experts in science, technology, and innovation (STI) as well as in technology transfer,” said Mr. Caezar Angelito E. Arceo, Supervising Science Research Specialist and lead organizer of the forum.
“We are honored to stimulate discussions and initially assess research prioritization along AANR areas,” Arceo added.
Also present in the forum were representatives from the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), the lead agency in IP registration and IPR conflict resolution in the Philippines.
“Let’s work together in synergizing and synchronizing our efforts to push for an innovation system in support to the country’s economic growth,” said Atty. Mary Grace Cruz-Yap, Director for Documentation, Information and Technology Transfer Bureau of IPOPHL.
Mr. Noel Catibog of DOST-PCAARRD, Atty. Editha Hechanova of the Association of PAQE Professionals, Dr. Linus Plym Forshell of Swedish Patent and Registration Office (PRV), Atty. Mary Grace Cruz-Yap of IPOPHL, Atty. Bayani Loste of Fortun Narvasa Salazar Law Offices, and DOST-TAPI’s in-house patent agents, Mr. Arceo, Mr. Roberto Verzosa, and Ms. Anna Liza Saet discussed the current trends in the generation and commercialization of AANR technologies in the country.
DOST-TAPI and DOST-PCAARD’s partnership
DOST-PCAARRD Acting Executive Director Dr. Reynaldo V. Ebora hoped that with all the efforts and partnerships in place, the protection and management of IP assets in the Philippines will continue to have an upward trend in the coming years.
DOST-PCAARRD Acting Executive Director Dr. Reynaldo V. Ebora delivers the opening message
“For the past two years, our collaboration with DOST-TAPI has achieved great results including eight technology transfer projects worth 53.4 million pesos,” said Ebora.
“These initiatives fell within the following major areas in technology assessment, prior art search, IP protection, freedom to operate review, technology valuation, business plan, and fairness opinion review,” added Ebora.
Signified by DOST-TAPI and DOST-PCAARRD’s partnership, the inauguration Freedom to Operate (FTO) Unit of DOST-TAPI in 2017 was supported and funded by DOST-PCAARRD.
The FTO determines the practicality of a generated technology to be freely commercialized in the country and avoid the risk of infringing IPR of technologies already present in the local market.
Meanwhile, DOST-TAPI Director Edgar I. Garcia expressed his optimism in finding more partnerships and vibrant collaborations with DOST-PCAARRD, IPOPHL and other partner institutions on scientific explorations in IPR.
DOST-TAPI Director Edgar I. Garcia expects more collaboration with other councils and agencies
“I am expecting that there will be new project or programs that you will forge with DOST-TAPI including other councils to work with us,” said Garcia in his closing remarks.
The forum is one of the many initiatives of the Institute which promotes and intensifies the partnership among actors in the STI ecosystem.
DOST-TAPI S&T Media Service
Maricon R. Avila
uploads by Maricar Aquino Bou
Growth Features 