The Department of Science and Technology (DOST), through the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD), will bring its Capacity-Building Initiatives on Intellectual Property and HeaRTNovation Program to the Ilocos Region on 21 July 2026, further expanding efforts to strengthen innovation and intellectual property management among health researchers.

The event follows the successful implementation of the program in Region XII and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in May 2026, marking its second regional rollout.  The program is one of DOST’s initiatives to expand regional engagement and strengthen innovation ecosystems outside the National Capital Region (NCR) and is part of its continuing efforts to expand access to intellectual property protection, technology transfer, and commercialization support for the utilization of health research outputs in the regions.

DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. shared his support, saying, “Science becomes more impactful when research is utilized properly. Through strengthened intellectual property and technology transfer initiatives, we support researchers in transforming their discoveries into commercialized innovations that contribute to improving the health and well-being of every Filipino.”

Among the PCHRD’s initiatives to be featured is the Health Research and Technology Innovation (HeaRTnovation) Hubs Program, composed of the following:

• The Intellectual Property Protection and Management of Health Research Outputs (IPROTECH) Program, which supports researchers in securing intellectual property protection for health research outputs;
• The Technology Transformation and Empowerment of Knowledge Generators and Innovators (TEKI) in Health program, which helps advance research outputs into more developed, usable technologies;
• The HeaRTNovation Hubs (H-Hubs) Program, which serves as a platform for connecting researchers, institutions, and experts to strengthen the utilization of health research and support innovation; and
• The Startup Grant Fund (SGF), which provides funding assistance to startups for the development, testing, and scaling of health technologies toward potential commercialization and wider application.

The program will also include discussions on the basics of intellectual property and disclosure, aimed at strengthening participants’ understanding of how intellectual property can support the development of health research outputs and help ensure that innovations are properly managed before they are shared or adopted. It will likewise provide a venue for networking among researchers, academic institutions, government agencies, and innovation stakeholders in the region. Lastly, the program will help identify opportunities for partnerships and support the growth of a more connected health R&D community in Ilocos.

Heeding DOST’s mantra of Agham na Ramdam, Secretary Solidum emphasized, “We are thankful to the PCHRD and the Regional Health Research and Development Consortia for extending our support in the regions, reminding us that science, technology, and innovation should not only be felt, but rather experienced, shared, and truly manifested nationwide through health research.”