Press Release
September 18, 2009

ROXAS: TECHNOLOGY IS TOOL FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
SEEKS APPROVAL OF PHILIPPINE TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER ACT OF 2009

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas today stressed the importance of government investment in information technology and research development as he pushed for approval of the proposed Philippine Technology Transfer Act of 2009.

In sponsoring the proposed measure, Roxas, chairman of the Senate trade and commerce committee, noted the country "at this very moment, stand at a crossroads tectonic shift in the global financial system."

"The imperative is not merely to survive. The standard now is to push the envelope to the limits of our capacity as a nation," he said, adding: "We cannot remain in a state of denial. Scientific innovations and their translation into economic progress for the benefit of the public is the key to survival."

He urged his colleagues at the Senate to "make sure that the use of government's limited R and D resources results in economically viable innovations," which he said should be made publicly accessible and available to the private sector for possible commercialization.

The proposed Philippine Technology Transfer Act of 2009, Roxas said, will promote and facilitate the transfer, dissemination and effective use, management and commercialization of intellectual property, technology and knowledge as a result of research and development funded by the government for the benefit of national economy and taxpayers.

Under the proposed measure, RDIs (R&D institutes or institutions) shall provide support to researchers-employees who decide to pursue commercialization of their works by creating, owning, controlling or managing a company or spin-off firm undertaking commercialization or accepting employment as an officer, employee or consultant in a spin-off firm undertaking such commercialization.

Government shall also pursue the commercialization of R&D innovations to generate additional funding for more R&D works. All revenues from such commercialization shall accrue to the RDI that performed the research.

RDIs shall retain their intellectual property rights over such innovations. However, the government agency which funded such R&D work may assume ownership of the innovations' intellectual property rights in cases of national interest, particularly those pertaining to national security, nutrition, health or the development of other vital sectors of the national economy.

To make such technology available to the public, the proposed measure mandates the Department of Science and Technology to establish a system for the cost-effective sharing of and access to technologies and knowledge generated from government-funded R&D by developing appropriate policies and procedures on public access.

A Congressional Oversight Committee shall be created. It will be composed of 5 members from the Senate, which shall include chairpersons of the Senate committees on Science and Technology and Trade and Commerce, and 5 from the House of Representatives, including also the chairpersons of the House committees on Science and Technology and Trade and Commerce.

"To fail in the field of technology development in this age is a betrayal of national interest. Our people are greatly innovative and have a natural affinity towards technology," Roxas said.

He added: "Through technology transfer, we will have a better chance to ensure that R&D plays its crucial role in national development."

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