The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPO) recently released the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) for the Philippine Technology Transfer Act of 2009.

Signed into law on March 23, the Technology Transfer Act  which took effect May 8 this year grants Intellectual Property ownership to research and development institutions that conduct research and development (R&D) using public funds. This paves the way for scientists to benefit from the results of public-funded researches. It allows scientists, state universities and colleges, and research institutions to profit from research funded by taxpayers.

The IRR, which emphasizes the need to transfer and commercialize technologies generated by research institutions using public funds, was signed on August 19 by DOST Secretary Mario G. Montejo and IPO Director General Ricardo R. Blancaflor. Commercialization, in this case, refers to the process of deriving income or profit from a technology, such as the creation of a spin-off company, or through licensing, or the sale of the technology and/or intellectual property rights.

The aim is for research institutions to effectively translate results of government-funded R&D into useful products and services that benefit the public. The successful transfer of government-funded R&D depends on the proper management of intellectual property.

“Intellectual property" refers to intangible assets resulting from the creative work of an individual or organization.

"Local technology works!" is the emphatic message of Secretary Mario G. Montejo of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

Secretary Montejo said that the National Innovation Agenda dubbed ‘Filipinnovation’ represents the policy direction of the new administration. Citing the advances made by the science community in the past, he said that the country can count on Filipino researchers given a climate conducive for innovation; supporting and working with local firms to come up with products, services, and technologies that are competitive.

“Remember that we are encouraging complementation where initiatives are harmonized for the various disciplines to work together with the goal of making things simple yet beneficial,” Secretary Montejo explained.

What’s important, according to the new Science Secretary, is the Department’s effort of promoting technologies that have been developed by the Filipinos. “Another good side of this effort is that we are attacking problems via strong partnership. The government, academe, and private sector are working together towards attaining a common goal,” he added.