DOST lauds passage of Technology Transfer Act

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) expressed optimism on the full development of the country’s Research & Development (R&D) strength following the passage of the Philippine Technology Transfer Act of 2009.

DOST secretary Estrella Alabastro said that this development will promote “brain-gain” in the Philippines specifically for the Science and Technology (S&T) professionals as well as encourage students to pursue R&D studies.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo recently signed Republic Act 10055, otherwise known as “An Act Providing the Framework and Support System for the Ownership, Management, Use, and Commercialization of Intellectual Property Generated from Research and Development Funded by Government and for Other Purposes” or the “Philippine Technology Transfer Act of 2009” into a full fledged national statute on March 23 at the Malacañang Palace.

The new law is expected to serve as the blueprint for a nationally coordinated technology transfer framework of government-funded researches.

A key provision in the law provides for incentives to researchers by according them share in the royalties as well as allowing them put up their own start up companies.

“We are optimistic that this new law, a landmark policy on technology transfer will revolutionize the commercialization of technologies generated by researches funded by taxpayer’s money,” Sec. Alabastro said.

The enactment came after Congress approved in December 2009 the Senate version, Senate Bill 3416, authored by Sen. Edgardo J. Angara and co-authored by Senators Manuel Roxas II and Loren Legarda. Senators Pia Cayetano, Gregorio Honasan, Panfilo Lacson, Aquilino Pimentel, Jinggoy Estrada and Juan Miguel Zubiri also served as co-sponsors.    

Alabastro further said that taking advantage of the new law would hasten the process of technology commercialization and broadens the scope of protection of intellectual property rights in government RDIs (Research Development Institutes).

“For the longest time, we rely mostly on breakthroughs from outside, while our local technologies generated through public funds remain untapped or archived in laboratories around the country. Hence, this is a significant break for us to roll this out to the market and be availed by the public,” she added.

Once fully in place, the new law is expected to provide the mechanism to allow important technologies to be commercialized and be made available to the public.

Likewise, Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD) executive director Patricio S. Faylon said the development served as a leap for the inter-agency policy advocacy collaboration and a feat in the Council’s policy development and advocacy mandate relating to S&T development.

PCARRD, the central planning council of DOST in the agriculture, forestry and natural resources has led the Department’s efforts in the Bill’s legislative advocacy and public awareness activities since 2006.

Currently, DOST and IPO (Intellectual Property Office) are preparing the basis for the Act’s implementing rules and regulation (IRR).