IPOPHL, Filipino inventors society partner to boost IP support

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) has signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Filipino Inventors Society (FIS) to enhance support for local inventors by helping them protect their intellectual property (IP) and commercialize their technologies.

The agreement is aimed at empowering inventors to innovate and contribute to the nation’s development.

The MOA was signed by IPOPHL Director General Rowel S. Barba and FIS President Dr. Ronald P. Pagsanghan at IPOPHL’s office in Taguig City, with key officials from both organizations witnessing the event.

Under the agreement, IPOPHL will provide IP expertise to FIS members, assist them in enforcing their rights, and strengthen their exposure to local and international markets.

FIS, in turn, will work closely with IPOPHL to raise awareness about the importance of IP and encourage its members to register and enforce their IP rights.

“This partnership will undoubtedly encourage other Filipinos to start their IP journey as well, leading to more creations that could change society for the better,” Barba said during the signing.

The MOA is also designed to foster stronger collaboration between inventors and institutions, a move that Pagsanghan said would help address fears within the inventor community about potential IP theft.

“Inventors fear that sharing their invention prototypes with institutions will expose their future IP assets to theft. This fear dampens the spirit of collaboration,” Pagsanghan said, adding that the new partnership aims to empower inventors and ensure they receive the recognition and compensation they deserve.

IPOPHL will also develop a registry of all inventors and their patents and ensure that FIS members benefit from the agency’s incentive programs.

Among these are the Inventor Assistance Program, which links inventors with pro bono patent experts, and programs like the Youth IP Incentive Program and Juana Patent and Juana Design Protection Incentive Program, which offer fee waivers and other support for inventors.

Pagsanghan emphasized that the partnership goes beyond improving the country’s ranking in the Global Innovation Index, focusing on empowering inventors to make significant contributions to national progress.

Founded in 1943, FIS is the oldest state-mandated institution supporting Filipino inventors.

It represents the Philippines in the International Federation of Inventors’ Associations (IFIA) based in Geneva, Switzerland, and currently has over 500 members with at least one registered patent or utility model.