The Technology Transfer and Promotion Division (TTPD) of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) held its review and sustainability planning workshop for the program, “Support to the University's Strategies in Technology Acceleration Initiatives by Nurturing the Intellectual Property and Technology Business Management Offices of the Consortia Member Agencies or SUSTAIN IP-TBM Batch 3.”
The workshop, which involved 30 State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) across Regions I, IV, V, VI and XII, was held on July 8-9, 2021 via Zoom.
TTPD Director Noel A. Catibog emphasized that capacity building activities provided by the Council hope to increase intellectual property (IP) applications, approval and implementation of the institutional IP Policy and Technology Transfer Protocol, and signing of licensing agreements for technology commercialization. Director Catibog commended the program accomplishments and reminded the group that achieving or exceeding program targets are strong bases for sustainability and will determine the next phase of the program.
The activity virtually gathered 63 participants in the workshop, which aimed at crafting short- and long-term strategies that will advance the sustainability of the IP-TBM program. A survey form helped assess PCAARRD’s impact on the IP-TBM offices’ operations before and during the implementation. The effectiveness of the capacity-building initiatives under the IP-TBM program was assessed through a five-point scale (with 1.0 as the lowest) in terms of the level of competence and confidence in filing and managing IP applications before and after the training.
Improvement in the competency and confidence of trainees was observed. Before the training, average scores of participants were 1.9 and 2.0, but they increased to 3.8 and 4.0, after the project. Participants, however, indicated further assistance on patent prosecution and drafting of commercialization agreements.
The survey also detailed their concerns on administrative, technical, and financial, as well as on the plans. All participating agencies indicated positive responses on the possibility of continuing or sustaining the IP-TBM operation in their respective institutions. Main reasons cited include: IP filings and management are necessary for faculty performance evaluation, SUC levelling, ISO accreditation; and technology transfer is considered an integral part of the R&D system. The participants also shared their plans towards sustainability, which include echo seminars; annual technology pitching, crafting of IP-TBM strategic plan as part of the institution’s roadmap; integration of IP and Technology Transfer in the university curriculum; and creation of an IP Board.
Significant accomplishments of SUSTAIN IP-TBM Batch 3 include conduct of the 1st virtual 10-module DOST-PCAARRD Intellectual Property Master Class and Technology Commercialization Mentorship Series with a total of 122 graduates. This Batch also conducted IP audits and institutional IP Policy (IPP) and Technology Transfer Protocol (TTP) reviews with 30 revised IPP and TTP for BOR approval. A two-day national technology pitch day was also conducted via Zoom and fb live with 35 agri-aqua technologies pitched, 35 technology posters featured and participated by almost 200 participants including SUCs/RDIs officials, technology generators, technology transfer officers, potential investors, collaborators, and partners from the industry.
To date, PCAARRD has capacitated 51 IP-TBM Offices across 15 regions with graduates from the three batches of the DOST-PCAARRD Intellectual Property Master Class and facilitated the filing of 2,026 IP applications (237 patents, 669 utility model, 123 industrial designs, 112 trademarks, and 885 copyrights) from 2017 to 2020.