Another milestone has been unveiled as the Department of Science and Technology through the Technology Application and Promotion Institute (TAPI) brought its major Technology Transfer Day in Mindanao, December 13, at the SMX Convention Center, Lanang, Davao City.
Seen in full action are different industry-based Fairness Opinion Boards (FOB) which also served during the Technology Transfer Day events in Luzon and Visayas earlier this year, as they evaluated proposed transactions during the event, provided actual negotiations and drafting of licensing agreements to commercialize government-funded research projects.
A total of 14 proposed transactions were evaluated by the Food and Beverage Industry FOB for fast-tracked issuance of Fairness Opinion Report (FOR), of which eleven (11) transactions were issued a provisional FOR and the rest were recommended for a full-blown evaluation.
The Board is composed of Atty. Anne Mariae Celeste V. Jumadla, the Managing Director of RevoIPMente Innovation Management Services; Ms. Maria Divina D. Alcasabas, General Manager of the Technology Plus Product & Services Consultancy Co. (TPPSC); and Dr. Marissa V. Romero, Chief Science Research Specialist-Scientist of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice).
In response to constant receipt of request for issuance of fast-tracked FOR during the said event, another set of experts were convened under Food and Beverage Industry, composed of Atty. Editha R. Hechanova, the President/CEO of Hechanova & Co. Inc; Mr. Noel A. Catibog, a Supervising Science Research Specialist of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) and Mr. Ronilo P. Violanta, a Development Management Officer of the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at the University of the Philippines-Los Baños (UPLB).
On the other hand, five transactions under Agriculture Industry FOB have been evaluated for fast-tracked issuance of FOR of which four transactions were issued a provisional FOR while the other one was recommended for a full-blown evaluation.
The Board is composed of Mr. Jerry C. Serapion, the ITSO Manager of PhilRice and Mr. Raul Q. Montemayor, the President of Federation of Free Farmers Cooperatives.
The other industry-based FOBs such as the Pharmaceutical Industry FOB, Chemical Industry FOB, Electronics Industry FOB and Electrical, Energy Industry FOB—though there were no transactions evaluated—are still pleased to be part of the Technology Transfer Day Mindanao Cluster.
The fast-tracked issuance of FOR is an innovation of TAPI as the Secretariat of the FOB, which shortens the period of evaluation and issuance from about 60 days from the constitution of the FOB, to a minimum of 10 days. This shall redound to great savings in time and financial resources in the transfer of technologies in the country.
FOB Secretariat is chaired by Engr. Edgar I. Garcia, Director of TAPI. Other members are Atty. Marion Ivy D. Decena, Chief of the Invention Development Division, Mr. Caezar Angelito E. Arceo and Engr. Richelle D. Cahanap.
So far, a total of 61 proposed transactions were already evaluated by various Fairness Opinion Boards pursuant to Republic Act No. 10055, otherwise known as the Philippine Technology Transfer Act of 2009”. (Rose Marthy Bongon)