Amid the low number of international intellectual property (IP) applications from the Philippines, the Department of Science and Technology – Technology Application and Promotion Institute (DOST-TAPI) has unveiled strategic governance roadmaps to propel Filipino inventors’ innovations onto the global stage.
During a Public Revalida with the Institute for Solidarity in Asia (ISA), DOST-TAPI achieved the Initiated Status and bagged a Silver Trailblazer Award on December 3 under ISA’s governance framework, the Performance Governance System (PGS).
The Public Revalida is a democratic exercise that validates a public institution’s completion of the four stages of the PGS. Enrolled institutions include the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Department of Health (DOH), among others.
In her presentation on the institution’s governance journey, DOST-TAPI Director Atty. Marion Ivy Decena highlighted that international IP filings only began in 2017 and have remained modest, with just 16 applications filed globally between 2017 and 2020.
“Why is this the case? Often, it stems from issues such as insufficient research quality, a lack of truly patentable inventions, or a dependence on utility models that don’t meet the strict novelty standards required in global markets,” Atty Decena said.
To help establish a solid foundation for the global success of Filipino technologies, DOST-TAPI has introduced four strategic roadmaps: IP Management, Technology Transfer and Venture Financing, Technology Promotion, and Policy Reforms with Legal Support.
Through these, DOST-TAPI aims to support 40 international IP applications and 180 local applications annually, establish seven spin-offs, facilitate 15 local adopters, drive the commercialization of 52 technologies, and register ten eligible tech-based companies for commercialization through their policies by 2028.
As of September 2023, 82 out of 153 technologies developed by DOST Research and Development Institutes for commercialization have been successfully adopted, but none have yet resulted in spin-offs. But through the Technology Transfer and Venture Financing Roadmap, which aims to nurture growth and connect innovations with potential users, programs like the Expanded Venture Financing Program (EVFP) and the enhanced HIRANG 2.0 have significantly accelerated the path from innovation to market.
“In 2024, we provided support to a total of nine EVFP projects, granting a total of more than 37.8 million pesos in funding at 0% interest to technology-based proponents,” Atty. Decena said.
Meanwhile, also in 2024, DOST-TAPI launched the Expanded IPR Assistance Program, paving the way for increased international IP applications and strengthening support for Filipino innovators.
“With the launch of the Expanded IPR Assistance Program, DOST-TAPI has provided critical support for international filings and IP due diligence. In 2024, the agency assisted in filing 14 Patent Cooperation Treaties and 25 National Phase Entries,” Atty. Decena said.
The revalida panel was chaired by ISA Associate Mr. Francis Gentoral and Competitiveness Bureau Department of Trade and Industry Director Dir. Lilian Salonga serving as vice-chair.
In her acceptance speech, Atty. Decena reflected on the learning gained during the first stage of their governance journey through the PGS and expressed hope for continued growth in the upcoming stages.
“We have learned so much through the question and answer, and through our initial journey in the Initiation stage. We hope that we’ll be able to meet all the expectations and meet all the deliverables as we have committed in our strategy scorecard and strategy map,” she said.
