IPOPHL launches Regional Development Plan on IP to unify innovation strategies in regions

September 30, 2024

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) has launched its Regional Development Plan on Intellectual Property (RDPIP) designed to unify region-wide innovation efforts and build intellectual property (IP) protection and commercialization capacities across the country. 

The RDPIP is a three-year initiative tailored to meet the distinct IP needs of specific regions in the Philippines, aiming to promote innovation and economic growth. Rooted in collaboration among government, academia and industry, the plan aims to align with broader regional strategies, enhances IP literacy and fosters a culture of innovation. 

The RDPIP sets out key activities, such as conducting needs assessments, organizing consultative meetings and launching regional events to facilitate knowledge sharing and innovation. 

“While the RDPIP aims to harmonize IP efforts, it recognizes the varying needs of regions based on the presence of IPOPHL’s Innovative and Technology Support Offices and the level of expertise and commitment of agency partners on IP protection and commercialization,” IPOPHL Director General Rowel S. Barba said at the launch of the RDPIP at the IP Convention in Iloilo held on Sept. 26, 2024. 

The IP Convention was the culminating activity of the week-long Western Visayas Innovative Startup Fest 2024. Held from September 23 to 27, the event focused on the theme of “Bridging Ideas and Opportunities for a Thriving Startup Ecosystem.”

IPOPHL kicked off the implementation of the RDPIP in the Western Visayas Region where it also gathered new partners to commit to realizing the goals of the plan.

Aside from Western Visayas, the RDPIP is also set to transform the IP landscape in Cagayan Valley this year. 

IPOPHL’s Documentation, Information and Technology Transfer Bureau (DITTB), the lead implementer of the program, encouraged existing and future partners to fully embrace the RDIPIP and actively support its vision of fostering innovation across regions.

“Let us look at this not just as another initiative, but as a movement—a movement towards sustainable growth and innovation. Each region has its unique story to tell, and it is time for those stories of innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship to be shared and celebrated through the RDPIP,” DITTB Director Ralph Jarvis H. Alindogan said. # # # (Janina Lim, Information Officer III)