The summit was hosted by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on Sept. 16-17, 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the IAP. The event brought together inventors, volunteers and beneficiaries of the IAP to discuss the program’s impact as well as its future prospects.  

The Philippines was represented by Dindo O. Dumali, IP Rights Specialist IV at IPOPHL’s Documentation, Information and Technology Transfer Bureau (DITTB) and IAP focal person, and Vanessa E. Malapit, head of the Protection and Education Group at the Ateneo IP Office. 

Also in attendance were the first IAP beneficiaries, Dr. Lizah Dorao-Pascual for her nerve regenerating technology and Engr. Mark Kennedy E. Bantugon for his award-winning Pili seal, sharing how the IAP helped them scale globally. 

IPOPHL shared strategies in building trust with inventors, strengthening partnerships with patent professionals and raising awareness on the value of intellectual property (IP) rights as a key driver of progress in developing economies. It also affirmed its continuing support for the program in alignment with its strategic objective of making IP protection more inclusive and accessible to all Filipino innovators. 

“The Inventor Assistance Program embodies our shared vision with WIPO of democratizing access to intellectual property protection,” said IPOPHL Acting Director General Nathaniel S. Arevalo. “Through our continued cooperation, we ensure that Filipino inventors, regardless of resources, can safeguard their innovations and contribute to national and global progress.” 

The IAP pairs under-resourced inventors with pro bono patent experts who guide them through the patent drafting and filing process, enabling them to apply for patent protection not just in their home country but also across multiple countries and states. 

Since its launch in 2015, the IAP has provided support to over 260 beneficiaries, with over 250 volunteers around the world supporting the program. The Philippines was one of three countries to pilot the IAP, through the DITTB which is leading its implementation.  

At present, over 70 inventors around the world have successfully secured a patent through the IAP, including the Philippines’ third IAP beneficiary, veterinary graduate Mariam A. Elestwani, who obtained a patent grant in the country with and international application under the Patent Cooperation Treaty. The patent covered a device used to lift and secure large dogs during medical procedures.  

MSMEs, researchers and inventors interested in applying for a patent under the IAP may know more about the program here. # # # (Rawl Maliwat, Communications and Marketing Writer)