Leading the essential role in technology transfer, the Technology Application and Promotion Institute of the Department of Science and Technology published the first Freedom-to-Operate (FTO) Manual in the Philippines.
The Manual attempts to explain the basic concepts concerning the FTO through a simplified and easy manner.
The FTO determines whether a generated technology can be freely commercialized in the country.
In doing so, the technology can avoid the major risk of infringing intellectual property (IP) rights of technologies already mass-produced in the local market.
“An FTO is a crucial part of technology commercialization as the process secures technology generators from the dangers associated with potential infringement of products that are already available in the market,” said Chief of DOST-TAPI’s Invention Development Division Atty. Marion Ivy D. Decena.
The Institute recognizes the contributions of science, technology, and innovation (STI) in national progress and hence, bridges the gaps in ensuring that STI has able to reach the appropriate stakeholders.
As a prerequisite of the Fairness Opinion Report (FOR), an FTO search report is fundamental to determine the possible benefits in proceeding with the proposed technology transfer.
Until FTO search reports are in, the FOR can determine whether the proposed transaction such as licensing agreement is deemed fair for the government.
In 2017, the Institute has conducted an FTO training-workshop to capacitate selected stakeholders among the STI community.
The Manual is co-authored by Caezar Angelito E. Aceo, Atty. Decena, Anna Liza B. Saet, Roberto R. Verzosa, Janeth N. Cruzada, Teresita O. De Vera, Elizabeth I. Garcia, and Atty. Maria Gladys C. Vilchez.
The FTO Manual was launched during the Director’s Report, Awarding Ceremonies, and 32nd Anniversary of DOST-TAPI on 25 January 2019 at the Philippine International Convention Center, Pasay City. (DOST-TAPI S&T Media Service/Jund Rian A. Doringo)
