Government grants for research and development (R&D) activities continue to increase as universities and R&D institutions become more active in pursuing new discoveries in numerous fields, particularly biotechnology, agriculture and pharmaceuticals.

Dr. Graciano Yumul Jr., Department of Science and Technology undersecretary for research and development, informed the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IP Philippines.) that grants in aid (GIA) given to schools and the R&D sector reached P700 million in 2007.

The figure, Yumul said, is a huge improvement from the P400 million given in 2006 and P250 million in 2005.

Last year, the universities and R&D sector received P375 million of the P700 million total grant. Other GIA programs include science and technology promotion (P175 million) and technology transfer and utilization (P150 million).

The six priority R&D fields, Yumul added, are biotechnology, information and communication technology, health and pharmaceuticals, environment, alternative fuels and agriculture.

"Intellectual-property and technology-transfer issues are increasingly becoming important. Universities and research and development institutions [RDI], though starting, already have some success stories," Yumul said.

The good thing, he said, is that IP initiatives, programs and platforms are currently provided and nurtured by the government.

The IP Philippines recently conducted the First National Conference on Intellectual Property and Technology Commercialization to teach universities ways to take advantage of the economic benefits of their inventions and innovations.

"Universities and research and development institutions are the country's centers of innovation. Linking their innovations with the market will attract more investments, generate employment and enhance the country's competitiveness," Adrian Cristobal Jr., director general of IP Philippines, said.

Cristobal said universities and RDIs must start developing and implementing IP policies within their communities to lay down the rules of ownership, rights and obligations that will guide innovators.

"Only when these rules are clear will commerce participate in technological development and commercialisation," he added.