By Daniel P. Tapaoan, Jr. and Kimberly S. Miguel

Setting the bar in technology commercialization, Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) won major awards in the 2021 Cluster Awarding Ceremony of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) on April 18. 

The MMSU’s University Innovation and Technology Support Office (UITSO) received platinum, gold, silver, and bronze awards for its sterling accomplishments in technology application and patenting. It is one of the only 10 state universities and colleges among 100 network members which received the four awards. 

The university got the Platinum Award for having drafted and filed seven invention patents, and for successfully commercializing its Utility Model on “Kamangeg Cheesecake” through a licensing agreement with Taguiporo Paoay Lake Resort in Paoay, Ilocos Norte. 

It also reaped the Gold Award for having drafted and filed seven invention patents; Silver Award for having provided 24 patent search services; and Bronze Award for integrating and offering a three-unit Intellectual Property (IP) subject in its academic curriculum. 

MMSU President Shirley C. Agrupis expressed delight in the recognition of university efforts, attributing such feat to the dedication of researchers and patentees in inventing and commercializing technologies. 

“We are deeply honored in receiving these prestigious awards. These will further inspire all of us in advancing intellectual property and technology invention in the university,” UITSO Chair Artbellson Mamuri beamed. 

IP-TBM Program Leader Dionisio S. Bucao assured the SUSTAIN IP-TBM program continues to strengthen the innovation culture of the university in technology application and patenting. (SUSTAIN IP-TBM stands for Support to the University’s Strategies in Technology Acceleration Initiatives by Nurturing the Intellectual Property and Technology Business Management). 

The IPOPHL is implementing and clustering and rewards system for its academic partners’ network to motivate them to go beyond publishing and shift to create new products. 

In this endeavor, participating universities and research institutions are being evaluated based on three categories: IP creation, protection and utilization.

The IPOPHL is a government agency mandated to administer and implement state policies to strengthen the country's IP rights. (JVBT/HLY, StratCom)