The Department of Science and Technology is hopeful that approval of a proposed technology transfer law will accelerate the process of bringing results of public-funded research from the laboratory to the market.

House Bill 3270 and its counterpart Senate Bill 1721 outline the framework and support system for ownership, management, use and commercialization of intellectual property rights derived from R&D funded by the government.

DOST Sec. Estrella F. Alabastro earlier organized an agency-wide technical working committee (TWC) chaired by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD) to draft a technology transfer policy framework presented in nationwide multi-sectoral consultations. The revised framework became the basis for the House and Senate versions of the Bill introduced and sponsored by Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya in the House of Representatives, and Sen. Edgardo Angara in the Senate.

The House S&T committee formed a TWG to review and refine the draft bill, and a new version was finalized last May 15 after several workshops involving stakeholders.
However, the Senate version was transferred from the S&T committee to the trade and commerce committee. No action has been taken since its introduction.

The bill is jointly endorsed by the Department of Agriculture, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Health, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of National Defense, Department of Interior and Local Government, Commission on Higher Education, NCIP, Intellectual Property Office Philippines, Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges, and the UP System. It is scheduled for presentation in the House S&T committee on May 20 for approval at the committee level. (Yen Ocampo, S&T Media Service)