UP Diliman Joins ITSO

Barely a month and a half before the formal Launching of the Innovation and Technology Support Offices (ITSOs) or the Patent Libraries Network, the University of the Philippines -Diliman finally accepted the invitation of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) to be one of the hosts institutions of the ITSO.

UP Diliman’s acceptance to be host institution was formalized through the Signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the IPOPHL on 01 February 2012 by UP Diliman Chancellor Caesar A. Saloma and IPOPHL Director General Ricardo R. Blancaflor. The MOA Signing was witnessed by IPOPHL Deputy Director General Andrew Michael Ong and UP Diliman Research and Development Vice Chancellor Benito Pacheco.


Primarily, the ITSO is envisioned by both parties to provide the following services:

1. Support IP creation by facilitating access to global science and technology information:
a. Serve as a patent search facility and library for patent information;
b. Provide skills training in patent searching;
c. Render patent search services; and
d. Organize a community of patent information users.

2. Support IP protection by promoting domestic and globally-competitive
innovations:
a. Provide general information on patents and patenting;
b. Provide skills training in patent drafting and prosecution;
c. Render patent drafting and prosecution services; and
d. Organize a community of experts to participate in patent examination.

3. Support IP utilization by assisting commercialization of globally- competitive innovations:
a. Render IP audit and evaluation services;
b. Provide licensing support;
c. Provide advice on IP management and commercialization strategies; and
d. Be a depositary of patent-related documents, papers and statistics.

UP Diliman will join 30 other Host Institutions from Universities and non-academic Institutions during the official Launch on March 22, 2012 in time for the WIPO-IPOPHL’s “High Level Forum on Access to Technology for Innovation”. This is regarded as a momentous occasion as no less than the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Director General, Dr. Francis Gurry, will be the Guest of Honor.

WIPO is IPOPHL’s partner in the implementation of the ITSO project. The organization provides technical assistance and international linkages to similar initiatives worldwide.

This article is from IPOPHL's website.