Isabela State University (ISU) and the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD) officially embarks on a collaborative partnership to foster innovation and entrepreneurship through the ceremonial inauguration of the Intellectual Property and Technology Business Management (IP-TBM) Office inside the University on January 23, 2024.

The said event was graced by DOST-PCAARRD officials in the persons of Dir. Noel A. Catibog (Chief Science Research Specialist and Director, Technology Transfer and Promotion Division), Dr. Fezoil Luz C. Decena (Chief Science Research Specialist and Director, Institution Development Division), and Dr. Synan S. Baguio (Chief Science Research Specialist and Director, Livestock Research Division).

The inauguration included the dedication and unveiling ceremony of the building, along with greetings and messages from both ISU and DOST-PCAARRD officials.

“As we inaugurate this intellectual property and technology business management office at ISU, we charge a course towards becoming a research powerhouse, not only in the region but in the whole country,” Dr. Orlando F. Balderama, Vice President for Research and Development, Extension and Training, expressed as he welcomed the attendees of the event.

It can be remembered that last 2018, the ISU IP-TBM project was started to facilitate and administer the University’s policy on Intellectual Property.

The project has three (3) phases that involved: (1) capacitating project staff about intellectual property management, (2) assigning IP Coordinators per ISU Campus along with patent mining, and (3) renovating and establishing the IP-TBM office. According to Director Decena, there are ninety-four (94) IP-TBM offices within the country and ISU is the third out of five institutions to receive funding for infrastructure development.

Dr. Ricmar P. Aquino, ISU President, said that with the formal establishment of an office, ISU is now gearing towards strengthening its research endeavors leading to the development of intellectual property and technologies with commercial potential – later on contributing to the growth of the local technology sector.

The IP-TBM is one of the four (4) components of the Regional Agri-Aqua Innovation System Enhancement (RAISE) Program of DOST-PCAARRD along with the Agri-Aqua Technology Business Incubation, the Agri-Aqua Business Hub, and the Knowledge Management Hub which aims to provide an optimum environment for inventors, innovators, and investors to build a competitive Agri-Aqua innovation ecosystem.

During the ceremony, Director Decena also gave a keynote speech on behalf of Dr. Reynaldo V. Ebora (Executive Director, DOST-PCAARRD), and hopes that the strategic move of establishing the IP-TBM office in the University will have a ripple effect for ISU to reach its vision of being a leading research institution in the ASEAN region.

The event ended with a closing message by Dr. Eva U. Cammayo, ISU IP-TBM Project Leader, as she thanked personalities and institutions that assisted them with the project with the promise of learning more as a team.

For the next three (3) days on January 24-26 with ISU as its host, the 6th DOST-PCAARRD Intellectual Property Masterclass (IPMC) will be will be held at The Hotel Sophia, Cauayan City, Isabela as part of the continued efforts to increase knowledge on research and development management.