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PROTECTING THE UNIVERSITY’S INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT OFFICE (ITSO)
The Innovation and Technology Support Office (ITSO), often referred to as “Patent Libraries,” is a flagship initiative by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) implemented in universities and higher education institutions across the country. This program, which began in 2010, was established through a cooperation agreement with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
The primary aim of ITSO is to “strengthen local institutional capacity to access patent information for use in research, education, idea generation, and business development.” ITSO serves as a key resource for patent services, including patent searches, drafting, and overall intellectual property (IP) management. This encompasses IP application processes, commercialization, and awareness activities.
With ITSO integrated into the university setting, the process of filing IP applications—such as copyrights, trademarks, industrial designs, utility models, and patents—has become more streamlined and accessible for faculty, students, and the public. Some ITSOs extend their reach beyond universities to government agencies and non-profit organizations, supporting local communities as well.
Intellectual property rights are the lifeblood of innovation. They allow innovators to profit from what they create, encouraging more invention and creation. - Bill Gates
A LABORATORY NAMED AFTER A PIONEER
GREGOR MENDEL RESEARCH LABORATORY (GMRL)
The history of the ORGR would not be complete without mentioning the Gregor Mendel Research Laboratory. After all, it was the need to upgrade the existing laboratory that led the University to tap Dr. Jonel Saludes, then a Balik Scientist of the DOST, to help renovate it for the purpose of securing accreditation for the university’s Medical Technology program.
The Gregor Mendel Research Laboratories (GMRL) of the University of San Agustin in Iloilo City, Philippines, was established to honor the contributions of the famous scientist, Gregor Johann Mendel, OSA. Mendel, an Augustinian friar, who is widely known as the Father of Modern Genetics due to his groundbreaking research on pea plants, which led to the discovery of the laws of inheritance.
