President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) to work closely with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to boost the country’s IP system.
The President said the Philippines was eyeing to usher in a renaissance of innovation or “FILIPINOVATION” that explores science and technology to find solutions to its modern-day problems.
Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo Pascual represented President Marcos at the World Intellectual Property Organization Asian Regional Conference in Support of Accelerated Life Sciences Innovation – Skills Development and Capacity Building.
“I therefore encourage the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines to collaborate closely with the World Intellectual Property Organization and all our partners present on this occasion to craft programs that will strengthen the country’s IP regime and contribute to our efforts in building the new Philippines that we aspire for,” Mr. Marcos said in a speech delivered by Pascual.
“I also urge everyone here to work together and harness the power of science, technology, and innovation as a catalyst for our post-pandemic transformation and our inclusive and sustainable development moving forward,” he added.
The President assured the country’s global partners of its commitment to contribute to various fields such as health and life sciences research, development, and innovation.
Mr. Marcos also encouraged Filipino scientists abroad to return home and contribute to national development through the Balik Scientist Program. Saying that in 2022, the government was able to fund and implement innovation grants in several key programs.
The government, through the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), also continues to promote the utilization and commercialization of technologies through various programs such as the IP Rights Assistance Program; the Tax and Duty Exemption Assistance Program; the Technology Innovation and Commercialization Program; and, the Grants and Assistance to Leverage Innovations for National Growth Program.
The Chief Executive also expressed excitement about health innovation research as he vowed the administration’s full commitment and support to achieve success.
“I have the highest hopes that this conference—through the researchers’ findings and innovations as well as collaborations from the academe—would help create, discover, and adopt more impactful innovations for the benefit of our peoples and our global healthcare system,” the President said.
“We believe that by addressing gaps and challenges in innovation inputs and outputs indices as well as in making continued investments in our educational and research institutions, we will reach this dream in no time,” he said.
The Philippines is currently ranked 59th on the Global Innovation Index (GII), with the President eyeing to elevate the country to the top one-third of the economy by 2028 in terms of the GII.