RP needs more local patents to boost competitiveness

MANILA, Philippines - The country needs more local patent applications to boost its image abroad as an economy capable of technological innovation. More patent filings, which indicate sufficient knowledge and efficient enforcement of intellectual property rights, could increase the country’s chances of being removed from a United States watchlist for IPR violators, officials on Wednesday said. "Experiences of other countries show that patent applications provide a good indicator of a country’s technological innovation capacity and performance," said Adrian Cristobal, Jr., director general of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines, at the 1st National Conference on Intellectual Property and Technology Commercialization. Citing the World Economic Forum’s 2007-2008 Global Competitiveness Report, Mr. Cristobal said the Philippines was in the bottom half, or 71st out of 131 countries, in terms of technological readiness. Southeast Asian neighbors Malaysia and Thailand were 21st and 28th while Singapore, Japan, South Korea, and Hong Kong ranked 7th, 8th, 11th and 12th, respectively. The same report also placed the Philippines in 79th spot in terms of innovation, behind Singapore (9th), Malaysia (21st), Indonesia (37th), and Thailand (33rd). "The Philippines has a lot of catching up to do," Mr. Cristobal said. Government data, he said, also show that 97% of the patents applied for and granted last year belonged to foreign applicants. The rest went to Filipinos. From 1948 to 2006, only 21 patents were granted to universities, and research and development institutes (RDI). Factors that hinder patenting, he said, in the country include the lack of knowledge and understanding of the IP system, low research and development (R&D) investments, as well as lack of incentives. "The situation must change," Mr. Cristobal said. Science Undersecretary and University of the Philippines Professor Graciano P. Yumul, Jr., however, said the lack of R&D funding awareness was the issue. "[W]e have more than P2.6 billion in available funds for R&D. But some universities and RDIs don’t know where to source this money," he said. Jared Nyagua, senior program officer of the World Intellectual Property Office, said the challenge for the Philippines was that of IP education. - Bernardette S. Sto. Domingo, BusinessWorld