As part of the Generation of Innovative Landscape for Agriventure Solutions (GILAS) which was held last June 20 to 21, 2023, in Club Balai Isabel, in Talisay, Batangas, the College of Agriculture and Food Science (CAFS) conducted a technology valuation workshop and emphasized the importance of valuing potential technologies. A total of 40 participants representing the different units of CAFS attended the event. 

Ms. Melannie Cabangbang, a Senior Research Associate from UPLB TTBDO, presented the initial lecture on auditing intellectual property for CAFS technologies. The lecture started with a review of Intellectual Property (IP and showed examples for each type alongside highlighted technologies from UPLB. The speaker emphasized the audit’s importance by discussing the technology transfer pathway. The absence of a standardized transfer process between research centers and the business sector has been identified as the current challenge in technology transfer. 

Additionally, she discussed how TTBDO regularly conducts an Intellectual Property Audit with respective innovators to update the database continuously. This audit involves a review of the technology assets and all related policies and procedures. They listed the benefits, which include:

• Identification of what IPs are owned and review of IP-related agreements;
• Preserve and enhance the value of existing IP;
• Identify new opportunities to profit from IP;
• Identify roadblocks and prevent costly disputes; and
• Facilitate and optimize business transactions

Further, she said that this audit is optional for researchers but is highly recommended by their office to manage the IPs effectively.

The afternoon lecture probed into basic finance and accounting, centered on technology valuation. It focused on the introduction to calculating the potential value of the IP for the owner’s benefit. Assistant Professor Arlene C. Gutierrez, Associate Dean of the College of Economics and Management, led the lecture and hands-on workshop. She emphasized that technology owners need to put value properly in their technology to gain an advantage during negotiations in the commercialization stage.

Moreover, she also introduced quantitative valuation, showing available technology valuation methods. The lecture concluded that no specific valuation method is appropriate for a particular situation, and they recommend a combination of results from the valuation methods taught to be used as a reference.

The participants were organized into six groups on the second day and were tasked with choosing a specific technology and computing its value using all the models discussed. Each group’s summary showed the college’s technological potential for innovation. The technologies were:

• Mobile solar pre-cooler;
• ALERT™ plant pathogen test kit;
• Ready-To-Drink passionfruit juice;
• NaturaGrow™;
• Corn and Soya-based Organic Feed Ration for Poultry Production; and
• FAW Pherolure

Dr. Fernando-Corpuz closed the program and emphasized the importance of commercializing existing technologies and setting prices for better negotiation deals with partners.

by MTP Latayan