MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) presented yesterday “Larry Labuyo,” the Philippines’ entry to the FIRST Robotics Competition to be held in Honolulu, Hawaii from March 26 to 28.
FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a US-based organization founded by inventor Dean Kamen in 1989, aimed at inspiring young people to engage in science and technology.
Science Education Institute (SEI) Director Ester Ogena said the Philippine team is composed of 32 junior students from the Philippine Science High School (PSHS), eight mentors from the University of the Philippines and De La Salle University and three coaches from PSHS. read more...
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
Availing patent protection in the Philippines and abroad
The advent of global trade has, to a large extent, contributed to the dramatic increase in the number of patent applications across the world. It has also caused an unprecedented complexity in the patent legal system.
Patent applicants still need to file a patent application in each and every country where they seek exclusive commercial exploitation because patent laws remain territorial in scope. Hence, a foreign entity needs to file a patent application here in the Philippines to be protected, even if it has already obtained patent registration in its “home country.”
To illustrate that cross-border trade has caused a dramatic increase in the number of patent applications, the Philippine Intellectual Property Office reported that patent applications made by foreign entities constitute 97 percent of total patent applications. If foreigners need to file a separate patent application here in the Philippines, the reverse statement is also true and Filipinos also need to file patent applications abroad to protect their inventions from infringement.
However, through international agreements, the patent system in the global context has been made simpler. Under the so-called traditional mode of filing, a Filipino applicant has to win the race in being the first to file a patent application within a jurisdiction. This is primarily because almost all countries adopt the “first-to-file” system. read more...
Patent applicants still need to file a patent application in each and every country where they seek exclusive commercial exploitation because patent laws remain territorial in scope. Hence, a foreign entity needs to file a patent application here in the Philippines to be protected, even if it has already obtained patent registration in its “home country.”
To illustrate that cross-border trade has caused a dramatic increase in the number of patent applications, the Philippine Intellectual Property Office reported that patent applications made by foreign entities constitute 97 percent of total patent applications. If foreigners need to file a separate patent application here in the Philippines, the reverse statement is also true and Filipinos also need to file patent applications abroad to protect their inventions from infringement.
However, through international agreements, the patent system in the global context has been made simpler. Under the so-called traditional mode of filing, a Filipino applicant has to win the race in being the first to file a patent application within a jurisdiction. This is primarily because almost all countries adopt the “first-to-file” system. read more...
Saturday, February 7, 2009
There’s money in research, says IPO chief
THERE is money in research, not just honors. This was the message to young scientists who were encouraged to think of “investing” in the commercial value of their intellectual property (IP) by having them protected, in other words patented or registered.
The suggestion was made by Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IP Philippines) Director General Adrian Cristobal Jr., who spoke before students and teachers of the Philippine Science High School (PSHS) in Quezon City on Monday.
Cristobal told students that the benefit of protecting their work does not accrue to them but to their country, as well.
Cristobal was guest at the opening exhibit marking the Youth Math and Science Technology Week at the PSHS main campus on Agham Road, Quezon City. Some 80 science and technology research projects were featured.
At that time, IP Philippines and the PSHS also signed a memorandum of understanding to promote a better IP environment among students and teachers of the pioneer and premier science high school. read more...
The suggestion was made by Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IP Philippines) Director General Adrian Cristobal Jr., who spoke before students and teachers of the Philippine Science High School (PSHS) in Quezon City on Monday.
Cristobal told students that the benefit of protecting their work does not accrue to them but to their country, as well.
Cristobal was guest at the opening exhibit marking the Youth Math and Science Technology Week at the PSHS main campus on Agham Road, Quezon City. Some 80 science and technology research projects were featured.
At that time, IP Philippines and the PSHS also signed a memorandum of understanding to promote a better IP environment among students and teachers of the pioneer and premier science high school. read more...
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Bicolano engineers succeed as entrepreneurs
Salvador Albia, a mechanical engineer, established his own backyard enterprise, the Tropics Agro-Industries, in 1975.
Initially engaged in the manufacture of tractors and threshers, Albia, after a number of years, created a brand that is now familiar to the Filipino public – KOLBI (reverse of Bikol).
KOLBI started as Albia’s invention of his own version of Philippine-made rice mills, after realizing that there is a growing need and potential in the post-harvest industry.
He then expanded his business to other agricultural equipment such as grain dryers and corn processors.
The continuous expansion of Tropics Agro-Industries has shown Albia’s capacity to innovate – and to take risks. As an entrepreneur, he saw the strengths of the agricultural machineries industry – the strong market, the availability of skilled manpower, and the availability of technology and basic production facilities.
Even with his accomplishments, he has faced the challenges of high and oftentimes foreign exchange-dependent cost of raw materials as well as limited working capital for production.
Albia worked through these challenges by seeking financial assistance.
Under the National SME Agenda, the Department of Trade and Industry endorsed Tropics Agro-Industries to the SB Corp., which in turn released P1.5 million with a loan term of three years. Albia used the amount to purchase raw materials and equipment.
Albia’s company has since expanded into the manufacture of other products, including the newly developed re-circulating grain dryers and post-harvest equipment for pili processing. read more...
Initially engaged in the manufacture of tractors and threshers, Albia, after a number of years, created a brand that is now familiar to the Filipino public – KOLBI (reverse of Bikol).
KOLBI started as Albia’s invention of his own version of Philippine-made rice mills, after realizing that there is a growing need and potential in the post-harvest industry.
He then expanded his business to other agricultural equipment such as grain dryers and corn processors.
The continuous expansion of Tropics Agro-Industries has shown Albia’s capacity to innovate – and to take risks. As an entrepreneur, he saw the strengths of the agricultural machineries industry – the strong market, the availability of skilled manpower, and the availability of technology and basic production facilities.
Even with his accomplishments, he has faced the challenges of high and oftentimes foreign exchange-dependent cost of raw materials as well as limited working capital for production.
Albia worked through these challenges by seeking financial assistance.
Under the National SME Agenda, the Department of Trade and Industry endorsed Tropics Agro-Industries to the SB Corp., which in turn released P1.5 million with a loan term of three years. Albia used the amount to purchase raw materials and equipment.
Albia’s company has since expanded into the manufacture of other products, including the newly developed re-circulating grain dryers and post-harvest equipment for pili processing. read more...
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Biggest ‘batchoy’ bowl aims for Guinness spot, draws thousands of people in Iloilo City
ILOILO CITY, Jan. 23 (PNA) – Vying for a place at the Guinness Book of World Records and the world’s culinary map, the biggest bowl of the Filipino favorite La Paz Batchoy was served today at the hot soup’s home in this southern city.
The stainless steel bowl was filled with 3,500 liters of soup stock made of meat, innards, pork liver and spices. A total of 100 kilos of “miki” noodles completed the soup served to 300 school children and more than 1,000 adults who witnessed the unique entry of this city’s native food to the world record.
The event was sponsored by Deco’s La Paz Batchoy, Iloilo Convention and Visitors Bureau (ICVB) and the city government here as a major side feat of the Dinagyang Festival celebration.
City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas, Vice Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, Edgar Sia II of ICVB and Lee Chuan of the Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc. (IDFI), led the ribbon cutting in unveiling the biggest bowl of batchoy measuring two meters in diameter and 1 meter in height. read more...
The stainless steel bowl was filled with 3,500 liters of soup stock made of meat, innards, pork liver and spices. A total of 100 kilos of “miki” noodles completed the soup served to 300 school children and more than 1,000 adults who witnessed the unique entry of this city’s native food to the world record.
The event was sponsored by Deco’s La Paz Batchoy, Iloilo Convention and Visitors Bureau (ICVB) and the city government here as a major side feat of the Dinagyang Festival celebration.
City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas, Vice Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, Edgar Sia II of ICVB and Lee Chuan of the Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc. (IDFI), led the ribbon cutting in unveiling the biggest bowl of batchoy measuring two meters in diameter and 1 meter in height. read more...
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Filipino invention goes to Indonesia
MANILA, Philippines—Seeing rice husk left on the fields in Iloilo where he taught as an agriculture professor, Alexis Belonio thought of putting them it to good use: he invented a stove powered by rice husk, whose leftover ashes he used either as a fertilizer or a raw material for fiber cement boards.
For providing a clean alternative to stoves powered by costly fuels like liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), the 49-year-old Belonio received the associate laureate citation of the Rolex Awards for Enterprise in 2008.
He is the first Filipino to get the citation from the luxurious wristwatch brand which annually honors outstanding projects for the poor around the world.
There are already a few cooking stoves fueled by rice husk, a common sight in countries like the Philippines where rice is the staple food. Belonio said the country generates about two million tons of rice husk every year. continue reading...
For providing a clean alternative to stoves powered by costly fuels like liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), the 49-year-old Belonio received the associate laureate citation of the Rolex Awards for Enterprise in 2008.
He is the first Filipino to get the citation from the luxurious wristwatch brand which annually honors outstanding projects for the poor around the world.
There are already a few cooking stoves fueled by rice husk, a common sight in countries like the Philippines where rice is the staple food. Belonio said the country generates about two million tons of rice husk every year. continue reading...
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