The Department of Science and Technology-Technology Application and Promotion Institute (DOST-TAPI), on Wednesday, Feb. 21, cited the agency’s programs and services to help Filipino inventors bring their ideas to the market.
DOST-TAPI’s Invention Development Division Supervising Science Research Specialist Anna Liza Saet explained in a televised interview, the initiatives that may help innovators thrive by providing financial aid and the technical experience they need to succeed.
She said TAPI is one of DOST's service agencies, whose primary responsibility is to promote the commercialization of technologies and market the services of other operating units of the department.
“TAPI also helps if the ideas of inventors are technically viable, we check if it is really supported by science and technology,” she added.
If an inventor's idea is viable, DOST-TAPI then will provide financial assistance to help them develop and commercialize their invention—the Grants and Assistance to Leverage Innovations for National Growth (GALING) program, which provides grants to inventors to help them with the costs of prototype development and product validation.
“If the inventors already have a prototype, we also have a program for that, the GALING program—where the agency gives support to verify your invention so we can check whether it works and if the product can be marketed,” Saet said.
Scaling, marketing the product
After that, she pointed out the final level of the program, which will help the inventor upgrade the invention to a commercial prototype and get it ready for pilot testing or market validation.
With this, she emphasized that it supports local inventors and innovators by providing them funds for inputs, labor, tools, equipment, and technical and professional services needed to hone their technologies for readiness in the market.
After the process of creating a prototype or working model, she discussed the validation.
“We also have a program that offers assistance to protect their creation--this is the Intellectual Property Right Assistance Program, with this assistance we can give their product protection to their technologies and creations so that in the end they have the advantage and leverage to commercialize it in the market,” Saet said.
The Intellectual Property Rights Assistance Program, otherwise known as the "Inventors and Invention Incentives Act of the Philippines,” is the protection of IP that is a crucial step in technology transfer and commercialization.
In support of this step, the institute provides assistance in patent consultation and grants for the payment of patent agents’ and IP officers’ fees.
“Huwag basta mag-launch sa market ng kahit anong product na hindi nakikita at hindi nabibigyan ng tamang proteksyon, mayroon tayong patents, utility models at copyrights (Don't just launch any product in the market that is invisible and not given proper protection, we have patents, utility models, and copyrights),” she added in a mix of English and Filipino.
Once the inventors complete the program, they can avail of the TAPI’s roster of programs for Technology Innovation and Commercialization or TECHNiCOM program, which focuses on providing financial grants and technical assistance to eligible proponents in refining and optimizing technologies in the pre-commercialization stage.
"We made sure that the workability of the technology, as well as the product, is validated until it is sold in the market," the specialist said.
The goal of the program, she added, is to turn technologies with their counterparts and potential competitors and prepare them for eventual market launch through commercialization and industry adoption.
With all of these, she assured the Institute's effective dissemination, sharing, and exchange of information involving science and technology development for the benefit of various sectors.