PASAY CITY, Metro Manila – “Patent mapping and patent landscape should enable us to determine the researchable areas, trends, and potential partners in our research,” said Dr. Rowena Cristina L. Guevara, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Undersecretary for Research and Development.
This was during the 1st National Forum on Technology Assessment and Intellectual Property Rights Protection in Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources (AANR) on January 25, 2019 held at the Philippine International Convention Center.
The forum was conducted by the Technology Application and Promotion Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-TAPI) in collaboration with the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD).
Speakers from DOST- PCAARRD, DOST- TAPI, Swedish Patent and Registration Office, Hechanova & Co, and Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHIL) served as resource persons on current and emerging trends in intellectual property rights and commercialization of AANR technologies.
The resource persons and their respective topics were the following:
1. Caezar Angelito E. Arceo, DOST-TAPI, “Technology Assessment of Research and Development Projects in AANR” (proof of concept, IP protection, and industry engagement as major steps in bringing innovations to the market);
2. Noel A. Catibog, DOST-PCAARRD, “Intellectual Property Rights Protection of AANR Technologies in the Philippines” (importance of protecting technologies generated through publicly funded researches);
3. Roberto R. Verzosa, DOST-TAPI, “Global Perspectives on IP in Artificial Intelligence (AI)” (AI and patent laws); 
4. Anna Liza B. Saet, DOST-TAPI, “Local Perspectives on Patenting AI” (AI, its benefits and products in the Philippines-DOST’s Diwata I, Diwata 2, and SARAI);
5. Atty. Editha R. Hechanova, Hechanova & Co., “Technology Assessment through Patent Mapping in AANR” (patent mapping and its benefits);
6. Dr. Linus Plym Forshell, Swedish Patent and Registration Office, “The Value of Patent Information When Taking Strategic Actions” (patent information as a reliable source of information);
7. Atty. Mary Grace Cruz-Yap, Director lV IPOPHIL, “Institutional Collaboration”; and
8. Brianne Nicole A. Sanchez, IPOPHIL, “Patent Landscaping” (importance of patent information)
Researchers, scientists, inventors, and other specialists from both public and private sector attended the forum.
DOST-PCAARRD Acting Executive Director Reynaldo Ebora, in his Welcome Message, acknowledged the role of IP Rights protection in a competitive AANR innovation system.