Text by Charmaine Lingdas
Photos by Erlyn May Pareja
The University of the Philippines Manila Technology Transfer and Business Development Office (TTBDO) celebrated a decade of bridging science and technology closer to Filipino communities with the event “IP Xcellence: A Decade of Innovation, A New Era of Disclosure”, held on Oct. 24, 2025, at the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Theater.
Spearheaded by TTBDO Director Prof. Lourdes Marie Tejero, the celebration highlighted a decade of promoting innovation, protecting intellectual property, and promoting technology commercialization at the university. The event also served as a venue to showcase project accomplishments and stakeholder engagement under the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST–PCHRD) via three phases of the Protect Juan Project (PJP), which have collectively strengthened UP Manila’s intellectual property ecosystem.
The activity was also highlighted with the launch of the UP Manila Disclosure Portal and IP Database System (DIBS).
Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension Dr. Leslie Michelle Dalmacio praised the TTBDO office as it has “steadfastly fulfilled its mandate to seek, secure, and scale to serve—transforming discoveries and ideas into solutions that make a real difference in the lives of Filipinos.” She acknowledged the university’s consistent dedication to creating a culture of research excellence, innovation, and service to the country via technology transfer and IP protection.
Under the PJP1, the university secured IP protection for 20 DOST-funded technologies and filed its first international patents, the majority of which originated from the UP SIBOL COVID-19 projects. PJP2 increased commercialization readiness via new patents, IP valuations, and industry linkages, while PJP3 saw the introduction of the Trade Secret Management Program and DIBS, aimed at simplifying IP management and maximizing technology use.
The event also showcased an IP Quiz Bee that further engaged faculty and students, fostering a deeper understanding of intellectual property rights and their vital role in advancing research and innovation.
Looking ahead, UP Manila continues to champion innovation and collaboration, encouraging its faculty, researchers, and students to be proactive in disclosing and protecting intellectual property.
“To the UPM-TTBDO team, congratulations on this remarkable milestone,” Dr. Dalmacio concluded. “Your dedication, vision, and hard work over the past ten years have laid the foundation for an even more dynamic and impactful future for research translation and innovation in UP Manila.”
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