CCCI to help members access patent libraries

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) is determined to run its franchise of Innovation and Technology Support Office (ITSO), to help member companies gain access to global technology.

Noting the fact that the world patent database is a rich source of technological and competitive information, CCCI president Prudencio Gesta said the chamber is going to start off in taking advantage of the ITSO access.

The ITSO concept, which has long been utilized by companies in more developed countries as part of their business strategy, the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPO) has established a franchise of ITSOs within top universities of the country, including CCCI.

ITSOs or “Patent Libraries” as they are otherwise called, have the capacity in searching patents worldwide and passing on the information to industries.

Throughout 2011, over a hundred professionals in various technical fields from universities have been trained by patent experts from Europe, United States and Singapore.

Recently, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) formally launched the establishments of ITSOs in the Philippines, through a two-day forum dubbed “High Level Forum on Access to Global Technology for Innovation.”

WIPO is a specialized agency of the United Nations, with headquarters in Geneva, dedicated to promote the protection of IP throughout the world, as well developing a balanced and accessible international intellectual property system, which rewards creativity, stimulates innovation and contributes to economic development while safeguarding the public interest.

In Cebu, according to Gesta, CCCI will lead on the promotion of this campaign working together with concerned agencies like IPO, Department of Trade and Industry and partner universities.

Recognizing the need to raise IP awareness as part of the innovation ecosystem in the country, the recently concluded forum gathered IP stakeholders spanning government, business and civil society to start a series of conservation intensifying the academe-industry collaboration and to exploring practical strategies in fostering innovation through access to technological information.

In 2010, The Intellectual Property (IP) Philippines and WIPO signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA with the academe and business sector in Cebu for the establishment of nine Patent Libraries or the Innovation & Technology Support Offices (ITSOs) in Cebu.

Initially, the Patent Libraries or ITSOs were identified to be established at the Cebu Institute of Technology University (CITU), University of Cebu (UC), University of the Philippines Cebu College, University of San Carlos (USC), University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R), and at the offices of CCCI, MEPZ Chamber of Exporters and Manufacturers (Mepzcem), Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation, Inc., (CFIF) and the Cebu Educational Development Foundation for IT (Cedfit).

In an earlier interview with Department of Trade and Industry-Cebu Provincial Office director Nelia F. Navarro, she said Cebu was chosen as the pilot area for this project because of its high potential for patent activity, usage of paten information, commercialization of innovation, and most importantly, because of the presence of qualified partner-institutions to host and operate these ITSO’s or Patent Libraries on their own account in accordance with the terms of reference and rules prescribed by IP Philippines.

Navarro said the project, also supports the vision of “an Intellectual Property Conscious Philippines in a demystified, development-oriented and democratized IP System by 2020.

“The DTI-Cebu fully supports the establishment of ITSOs as these patent libraries can build on the institutional capacities of universities, R & D institutions, industry associations, business development services providers, and consultants to teach and conduct patent searches, patent drafting and provide assistance in patent prosecution,” said Navarro.

At the same time, the local technological base is strengthened by building up local know-how to create, own and manage their IPRs, she said.

Since, Cebu is still on the early stage in building itself as the next “Silicon Valley”, Navarro stressed that developers, as well as companies need to have a good manual for possible innovations, of which similar concept are being half-way developed by other innovation experts around the world.

The facility will give Cebuanos the access to global science and technology information that are legally available for “copying”.

“Instead of spending money for broad and massive and time consuming research, innovators, R&D developers, academe, and even companies can access the patent library based on their desired technology that needs to be developed,” Navarro said.

The patent library, formally called as ITSOs offer 70 million canned documents that can be accessed by Cebuano developers, ICT experts, academe and any other interested parties, Navarro said. (FREEMAN)