In an effort to strengthen the bonds of a Lasallian atmosphere grounded on support for the scholarly works of the University’s faculty, staff and students, the DLSU Innovation and Technology Office (DITO) together with the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) organized and conducted a talk aptly entitled “Intellectual Property Management and Technology Commercialization” today at Yuchengco 507-509. The event was graced by keynote speaker Richard S. Cahoon Ph.D, a mainstay in the fields of intellectual property (IP) strategy and technology commercialization.
Cahoon, the former Director of Technology Transfer at the Cornell University and the current President of BioProperty Strategy Group, on a venture of imparting his experience and expertise in different universities all over the Philippines, visited DLSU, the last leg in his series of talks. He stresses, “Universities are where you can find golden nuggets.” He further states that in his goal to change the world—”even a small part of it”—he wishes to dote on the importance of intellectual property (IP).
New form of dissemination of knowledge
Cahoon reiterates that universities were places that create new ideas, and, more than that, inventions. His talks champion the significance of technology transfer in the world today. IP-based technology transfer (TT), he says, is vital in realizing the real transfer of these inventions from creators to implementors. He says that “turning inventions to something real” means transformation of these inventions from mere laboratory creations to products and services that serve the good of the society.
Real IP values
Cahoon shares his belief that IP-based tech transfer is important not only for universities, companies, and the government, but also for the general public and for individuals as well. However, more than generating money, he says, are the philanthropic and humanitarian backgrounds that must also be taken into consideration. “We [at Cornell] make sure that technology is befitting those in society who have the least,” he furthers.
He argues that his advocacies in empowering IP-based TT also prove to be significant in economic development in the perennial pursuit for the solutions to several societal problems. In addition, he pushes for the commercialization of technology as a route to the public good.
In a university setting
Cahoon says, “The goals of tech transfer should never dominate those of education, research, and the public good.” He also reiterates what he believes should be the true intentions behind TT. “Although it’s tempting to think this is all about business, it’s not,” he accentuates. “It’s about research.”
He also emphasizes the relevance of universities in propagating TT due to their sovereign environments and the implementation of strict academic freedom within these environments. He adds, “Students and faculty have the right [to choose] when and what to publish,” which all the more encourages pursuance of IP-based university TT.
“Universities should create and nurture,” he says. “Universities should invest in the future.”
