DITTB Launches Technology Information Brokering and Matching Service
By: Leslie Ann T. Cruz

In line with the thrust of the Philippine government to spur the growth of small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) and encourage the use of patents in the Philippines, the Philippine Intellectual Property Office through its Documentation Information and Technology Transfer Bureau (Bureau) has embarked upon a program entitled “Technology Information Brokering and Matching for SMEs.”
The goal of the program is to provide SMEs with access to patents and modern technology in order to fuel local development, innovation, productivity and the commercialization of patents. Moreover, it seeks to encourage local and foreign patent owners to enter into license agreements with Philippine SMEs. The patents to be licensed depend upon the requests and/or requirements of the SMEs that approach the Bureau for information. The Bureau then conducts a patent search through its database for a compatible patent or patents and then contacts the patentee to explore the possibility of entering into a license agreement with the SME concerned. Indeed, the confidentiality of the patent is maintained and the identity of the patentee remains undisclosed throughout the matching process.
In 2005, the Bureau will take a more aggressive approach to this program and will introduce the same to the various industry associations.