FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 3 October 2012. Geneva. The International Intellectual Property Institute (IIPI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL). The MOU, signed by Institute Chairman and President Bruce Lehman and IPOPHL Director General Ricardo Blancaflor, formalizes cooperation between the organizations over the ongoing Innovation Opportunities project.
Innovation Opportunities is a joint project between the Institute and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) which aims at improving the capacity of Information Technology Support Offices (ITSOs) and technology transfer offices at Philippine research institutions. The MOU identifies this capacity-building and related coordination and awareness-raising activities as areas for cooperation between IIPI and IPOPHL.
IIPI Chairman and President Bruce Lehman praised the Republic of the Philippines for its initiative in the area of technology commercialization: “The Philippine government and IPOPHL have demonstrated that they are leaders in intellectual property management through 3D IP 2020 VISION and other programs. These projects will improve the country’s ability to compete in the increasingly-important global knowledge economy.”
This is the second MOU between IIPI and IPOPHL. In 2010, IIPI and IPOPHL signed an MOU pertaining to previous elements of the Innovation Opportunities program, including IIPI’s patentability review of articles published by selected Philippine research institutions.
Image © Andrew Jaynes 2012