DOST can provide P1-M assistance to Pinoy inventors

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) can provide assistance of as much as P1 million to an inventor with a bright and viable idea or invention.

Edgar Garcia, director of the DOST’s Technology Assistance and Promotion Institute (DOST-TAPI), said that the agency has maximum assistance of up to P1 million for inventors and innovators to commercialize their ideas.

Garcia said the cash assistance depends on the viability of the proposal and the program of assistance to be drawn up and submitted by the applicant.

DOST-TAPI, he said, also provides assistance to inventors in filing patent applications with the Intellectual Property Office (IPO).

Garcia said that Filipino engineer Aisa Mijeno was one of those who had sought TAPI assistance for her saltwater-powered lamp.

Garcia said that Mijeno had given a presentation to TAPI of her Sustainable Alternative Lighting (SALt) lamp more than a month before the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders’ Summit in Manila last week, where her work was discussed in a forum moderated by US President Barrack Obama.

Garcia said that the DOST also has the Inventors Guarantee Fund, which could be tapped by inventors to fund their research and development on their ideas and concepts and further develop the commercialization of their inventions or products but they would have to submit applications and proposals for assistance.