VALENCIA CITY, Bukidnon -- Some 2,000 inventors, researchers and technology generators are targeted for coverage for intellectual property (IP) protection by Technology Application and Promotion Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-Tapi) for 2020.

This as DOST-Tapi director Edgar I. Garcia urged more inventors and innovators to have their inventions covered by IP protection. DOST-Tapi has been assisting technology generators and inventors in securing IP protection through its IP Rights Assistance Program (Iprap).

"On their own, it would be very difficult and time consuming to avail of IP protection," Garcia said, adding that through Tapi, the registration process and the added expenses are less of a burden.

Garcia said inventors and innovators would have a bigger leverage in case they venture into commercialization of their technologies.

Garcia is also urging researchers to protect their ideas, especially their researches, through Intellectual Property Rights application.

He said there has been a marked improvement in the reception of the innovation sector to IP protection initiatives of the DOST.

For 2008 to 2018 alone, Tapi 2008 had assisted more than 4,000 IP applications. Its IP Rights assistance aims to support to the commercialization of 500 DOST-generated technologies and strengthening the country's IP and technology portfolios.