PH tech transfer law highlighted in ASEAN IP workshop

Makati City – The recently concluded Association of SouthEast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Regional Seminar and Workshop on Intellectual Property Management and Technology Commercialization underscored the newly enacted Philippine technology transfer law.

Held on June 14-16 at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, the workshop was participated in by representatives, mostly from intellectual property (IP) offices, universities, and science and technology ministries from nine ASEAN-member countries.

Sponsored by USPTO in cooperation with the ASEAN Secretariat and the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines, the seminar aims to provide information and best practices on technology commercialization and licensing.

The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD) Socio-Economics Research Division Director Albert P. Aquino presented the Philippine perspective on the topic “Importance of IP policy in promoting innovation in the ASEAN”, by sharing the country’s experience in the enactment of Republic Act No. 10055 or the Philippine Technology Transfer Act of 2009.

He also updated the participants on the implementation of the law, which involves sustained public awareness advocacy, capacity building, and monitoring framework.

The presentation, which was followed by an open forum, gave way to an exchange of information among the participants.

Aquino was chair of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-led Technical Working Committee on Technology Transfer Policy Advocacy, which was instrumental in advocating the passage of the law.

At present, DOST is pursuing a nationally coordinated public awareness campaign to promote the law and its implementing rules and regulations, alongside the crafting of the guidelines on IP valuation, commercialization, and information sharing.

Meanwhile, the seminar-workshop also provided the participants an opportunity to engage in the negotiation process. It also underlined the principle that commercialization of technologies should ultimately benefit public research and development institutions for greater national benefits.

Experts from the USPTO and technology licensing offices from the US also served as resource persons. Eduardo A. Genciagan, Jr., S&T Media Service