University IP filings hit record high in 2025
Intellectual property (IP) filings from Philippine universities, colleges and research institutions reached a new record high in 2025, the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) said on Wednesday.
IP filings with the IPOPHL’s Innovation and Technology Support Offices (ITSOs) surged 43.7 percent to 3,242 in 2025. This surpassed the previous record of 2,257 in 2024.
ITSOs comprise 103 partner higher education and research development institutions.
Copyright filings nearly doubled to 1,197 last year, contributing 17.8 percent of the 6,732 resident copyright submissions.
Meanwhile, trademark applications filed by ITSOs grew 51.3 percent.
ITSOs recorded 506 patent applications, up 15.3 percent and accounting for about half of the 999 submissions.
Utility model filings from ITSOs reached 858 applications, representing 47.7 percent of the 1,800 resident filings in that category. Industrial design applications climbed 31.2 percent to 454, or 28.8 percent of total resident filings.
Nathaniel Arevalo, Acting director general of IPOPHL, said the turnout reflects the growing impact of technology transfer and IP commercialization within the agency’s flagship academe partnership program.
“It highlights how research and innovation not only contributes to knowledge and societal benefits, but also generates tangible economic value for the institutions and stakeholders involved,” Arevalo said.
IPOPHL data show that this surge in applications translated into higher earnings. ITSOs recorded a 19-percent increase in income from IP assets in 2025, covering earnings from licensing, spin-offs and direct sales.
The program generated P24.3 million in income, up from P20.4 million in 2024.
The ITSO program is IPOPHL’s flagship initiative to strengthen research commercialization and improve access to patent information and IP services within academic institutions.
It is part of the World Intellectual Property Organization’s (Wipo) Technology and Innovation Support Center network.
IPOPHL noted that Wipo had recognized Southeast Asia for establishing a “world-first, formally established mechanism” for these centers, which the organization deems crucial to creating value from IP.
