MANILA, Philippines -- With a key legislation on technology transfer enacted into law, Science Secretary Estrella Alabastro is optimistic that it will help address the brain drain the country is experiencing with the exodus of scientists to other countries.

Speaking before government scientists at the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development, Alabastro said the signing of the Philippine Technology Transfer Act of 2009 by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo last month was a step in the right direction to encourage scientists to venture more in research and development.

“We are optimistic that this new law, a landmark policy on technology transfer will revolutionize the commercialization of technologies generated by researches funded by taxpayer’s money,” Alabastro said.

A vital part in the law has mandated the grant of incentives to researchers in the form of royalties, which in turn, could fund start-up companies aiming to commercialize research outputs, she pointed out.

The law provides a national framework for technology transfer, designed not only to entice scientists to stay put in the country, but also spur interest among students in doing research, the official explained.

Alabastro added that the law would speed up the process of technology commercialization and widen the scope of protection of intellectual property rights in government research institutions.

“For the longest time, we rely mostly on breakthroughs from outside, while our local technologies generated through public funds remain untapped or archived in laboratories around the country. Hence, this is a significant break for us to roll this out to the market and be availed by the public,” she said.

The law also irons out hitches that usually hampers research and development like ownership, sharing, and use of revenue, according to Dr. Albert Aquino, head of the Tech-Transfer Technical Working Committee of the Department of Science and Technology.

Simply put, “the law facilitates and systematizes the transfer of technology or knowledge from the laboratory to market,” he said.

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