DOST-8 conducts Orientation on Securing Fairness Opinion Report to ESSU

The Department of Science and Technology – Regional Office No. 8 (DOST-8) recently held a Consultative Meeting on the Implementation of Fairness Opinion Board (FOB) Project and the Process of Securing Fairness Opinion Report (FOR) with the Intellectual Property and Research and Development officials of the Eastern Samar State University (ESSU), Borongan City, Eastern Samar. The activity, which aims to orient the ESSU on the process of commercializing of its various technologies generated from its Research and Development activities, was held virtually via an online platform last January 22, 2021. 

 The event was led by Engr. Ernesto M. Granada, DOST-8 Regional Director and Head FOB-VIII Secretariat, who also gave a Welcome Message and Overview of the Activity. Engr. Florentino L. Quiñones, FOB VIII Project Coordinator, discussed the Guidelines on the Constitution of the FOB, the Process in the Issuance of FOR and the contents of the written recommendation by the DOST Secretary. Dir. Kimberly Michelle R. Quintua, Director of the ESSU Intellectual Property Office of the University (IPOU) and Gen. Manager, Innovation and Technology Support Office (ITSO), presented the different ESSU technologies and R&D outputs ready for commercialization and require FOR issuance. 

Dr. Arnaldo T. Amosco Jr., Provincial S&T Director of DOST-Eastern Samar, Dr. Evelyn B. Tablante, DOST-8 Technical Consultancy Coordinator and Member, FOB VIII Secretariat, and Ms. Leonysa T. Bacor, Project Staff, FOB VIII Secretariat, were also present in the meeting. Other ESSU Officials who attended the activity are Engr. Jacob Godino, Ms. Melogen Bandalan, Ms. Hanzale Obon and Ms. Ms. Caroll Arguelles. 

The creation of the FOB is pursuant to the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 10055 or the Technology Transfer Act of 2009 and is now lodged at the DOST Regional Offices as Secretariat. The FOB reviews fairness to the government (government funding agency or research institute) of the financial terms, such as the licensing or royalty fees, specified in the licensing agreement, whenever publicly funded research and development outputs are commercialized by the Research and Development Institute (RDI) or the Government Funding Agency (GFA). The RDI can be a State University or College (SUC), a government research center, or even a private research institute that received government funds for the generation of the subject technology. The FOR contains the FOB opinion as to the fairness to the GFA or RDI of the proposed transaction with a technology adopter or business, particularly its financial terms, and is approved by the DOST Secretary with the recommendation of the FOB. 

 With the FOB/FOR orientation and the DOST-8 assistance on other technology commercialization concerns, the ESSU is expected to strengthen and promote its in-house technologies and R&D outputs for commercialization and successful adoption with local MSMEs, LGUs or businessmen.