QCU joins ITSO 2.0 network
The Quezon City University (QCU) was formally welcomed by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) as the first Local University in the country to be part of the Innovation and Technology Support Office (ITSO) 2.0 network during the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) at the Executive Lounge, Quezon City Hall on April 25, 2023.
No less than the chairperson of the QCU Board of Regents, Quezon City Mayor Ma. Josefina “Joy” G. Belmonte, and the IPOPHL Director-General, Atty. Rowel S. Barba, signed the MoA that formally established the ITSO in QCU. Also witnessing the MoA signing are QCU President Theresita V. Atienza and Dir. Ralph Jervis Alindogan, Director IV, Documentation, Information and Technology Transfer Bureau.
With its accreditation into the ITSO 2.0 network, QCU’s Intellectual Property Office will also be known as an IPOPHL-accredited ITSO to be led by Prof. Maria Aura C. Impang as ITSO General Manager.
In her message, Mayor Joy Belmonte shared that it was an honor for the QC local government that QCU and IPOPHL have formally signed the partnership for the establishment of an ITSO in the university, which will help “motivate our talented QCU students to imagine, invent, and innovate,” especially that QCU is the first local university and college (LUC) in the country to be included in the ITSO 2.0 network.
“It is our dream that through our local university’s ITSO, individuals in the field of knowledge generation and business such as academics, scientists, artists, inventors, creatives, researchers, and entrepreneurs can access integral information that can be used to generate ideas leading up to new, high-value products that contribute to economic development,” said Mayor Joy.
The City Mayor also committed to supporting the ITSO 2.0 initiative and all the endeavors of IPOPHL as the city aims to maintain its standing in the Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index.
“I commit today that QCU will be a role model for all local government universities. Sana sa pamamagitan ng aming tagumpay dito ay marami pang mga LGU-run universities ang makinabang [sa ITSO 2.0 network],” Mayor Belmonte emphasized.
For his part, DG Barba acknowledged Quezon City’s standing as the number one city in the country in terms of competitiveness. He also thanked Mayor Belmonte for her support of this endeavor, emphasizing that the event was the first time that a City Mayor signed a MoA with IPOPHL for the ITSO 2.0 network.
He also assured the QC Government and QCU administration of IPOPHL’s commitment to assist QCU in establishing and strengthening its ITSO that will meet the IP needs not just of internal clients but of the wider QC community.
“We will equip you with the required skills and competencies to effectively manage and run your ITSO. Our ultimate goal is for the ITSO to function as a mini-IPOPHL within the host institution, addressing not only the IP needs of its faculty, researchers, and students, but also of its local external community – your Quezon City MSMEs, innovators, and creators,” DG Barba stated.
In her closing remarks, Dr. Theresita V. Atienza, QCU President, stated QCU’s commitment to be the best ITSO by working closely with IPOPHL to protect the intellectual property rights of the QCitizens.
“We believe that protecting the IP rights of our citizens would mean wealth generation for them and the City,” Dr. Atienza ended.
The event was attended by Dir. Ralph Jervis Alindogan, Director IV, Documentation, Information and Technology Transfer Bureau, IPOPHL; Prof. Adrian Sablan, Program Manager of ITSO 2.0 and chief, Intellectual Property Management and Technology Transfer Division, IPOPHL; Ms. Maricris Veloso, Head, QC Education Affairs Unit; Dr. Bradford C. Martinez, QCU Vice President for Academic Affairs; Engr. Ryan Arago, Dean, QCU College of Engineering; Dr. Randel Estacio, Dean, QCU College of Education; and Mr. Angelito Bautista Jr., Acting Director, Research, Extension, Planning, and Linkages – Research Management Office.
With its accreditation, the QCU ITSO will conduct enhanced IP awareness seminars and trainings, and lead collaborative programs and activities focused on innovation and intellectual property across disciplines in the University, while also serving the IP needs of the local government as well as other sectors within the city, with the end goal of growing QCU’s IP portfolio to include filings for patent, utility models, trademarks, and industrial design.
