AS AN academic institution, Benguet State University is producing technological innovations, inventions and creations of scholarly and artistic works. With these outputs, the university also ensures the protection of the exclusive rights of its scientists, researchers and artists of their intellectual property and creations as provided in the intellectual Property Code of the Philippines, which is being done by the BSU Intellectual Property Rights office (BSU IPRO).
The BSU IPRO is one of the directorate offices of the Office of the Vice President for Research and Extension. The office assists researchers/inventors in licensing particular technologies required for commercializing their inventions and product development. It assists in seeking technology solutions by brokering licensing agreements from initial negotiations to concluding contracts.
The office also facilitates the execution of agreements, affidavits, applications, complaints and other documents relating to works and inventions necessary to facilitate the University’s intellectual property rights and make deposits on copyright. It also assists in filing appropriate intellectual property applications on behalf of the University.
Aside from ensuring the protection of the Intellectual Properties of the BSU employees and students, the office is also reaching out to the different academe, government and non-government institutions by conducting information, education and promotion activities in the region to better understand IP and its relevance to development. Apart from IP awareness, it also conducts various activities that aim to encourage technical innovation, inventions and creation of scholarly and artistic works which they can later on register for Intellectual Property.
Among the activities being conducted by the BSU IPRO, in collaboration with the Intellectual Property Office Philippines (IPOPHIL), include Introduction to IP, Patent Drafting training workshop, IP Management, and Technology Licensing and Valuation training course,
The BSU IPRO intends to continue to expand and strengthen IP awareness across the region and the office is always open to assist interested groups or individuals.