The Expanded Intellectual Property Rights Assistance Program (E-IPRAP) is an initiative of the Department of Science and Technology – Technology Application and Promotion Institute (DOST-TAPI). It builds on the original IPRAP by offering broader support for international intellectual property (IP) protection. Through this program, DOST-TAPI provides financial, technical, and consulting assistance to eligible Filipino inventors and institutions seeking IP protection abroad. E-IPRAP aims to boost global visibility for Filipino innovations and contribute to the country’s Global Innovation Index (GII).
This guide serves as a practical resource for Filipino inventors and institutions interested in expanding the reach of their innovations globally through DOST-TAPI’s E-IPRAP. Take the first step towards securing international IP protection by preparing your documents and exploring the resources linked above.
Program Overview
The E-IPRAP was developed as an offshoot of the original IPRAP of the DOST-TAPI to address the growing need for global protection of Filipino-developed technologies and innovations. It was formally instituted through TAPI Administrative Order No. 006, Series of 2024, aligning with DOST Administrative Order No. 011, Series of 2020, which promotes broader commercialization support for R&D outputs. E-IPRAP reflects the government’s policy direction to strengthen IP protection as a tool for economic development and international competitiveness. The program aims to facilitate smoother international IP filing processes for qualified applicants by providing structured financial and technical assistance. At its core, E-IPRAP is designed to help Filipino inventors and R&D institutions gain a foothold in international markets by making global IP protection more accessible and sustainable.
Program Objectives
The program was meant to:
- Provide equal opportunities for men and women inventors to seek international IP protection
- Support commercialization of Philippine-developed technologies abroad
- Improve the Philippines’ GII standing through increased international IP filings
What it Offers
It supports international filings of patents, utility models, industrial designs, and trademarks through the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), Madrid Protocol, Hague Agreement, or direct country applications. The assistance it provides covers:
- Professional services (e.g., technology assessments, audits, IP valuation)
- Technology assessment
- Prior art and trademark searches
- IP audit and valuation
- Market potential research
- Commercialization planning
- Filing and conversion of PCT to National Phase Entry (NPE)
- Filing costs and government fees
- Filing fees for PCT and NPE
- Substantive examination requests
- Project-Based Assistance (For RDIs)
- Direct fund allocation to RDIs
- Activities include FTO searches, legal services, IP filings
- Requires reports and justifications for fund use
- Post-filing activities (e.g., translation, responses to reports)
- Market research and commercialization plans
Target Beneficiaries
The target beneficiaries designed to benefit from the program include:
- DOST Research and Development Institutes (RDIs)
- TECHNICOM grantees
- Small Grant Fund (SGF) grantees
- Filipino inventors (individuals or entities) applying for international IP protection
- For post-filing assistance: Applicants with previously assisted Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) or National Phase Entry (NPE) applications (regardless of affiliation)
- Corporation- or company-based applicants authorized to transact with DOST-TAPI
- Research teams or institutions with technologies aimed for commercialization in foreign markets
Qualifications
To qualify, applicants are expected to satisfy the following criteria:
- For DOST-RDIs, TECHNICOM, and SGF Grantees (General Applicants):
- Must be a recognized DOST Research and Development Institute or an official grantee under TECHNICOM or SGF programs.
- Must have a technology or invention with a filed local IP application with IPOPHL.
- Must submit complete documentary requirements as specified in the program guidelines.
- For Applicants Seeking Post-Filing Assistance (PCT/NPE):
- Must have received prior assistance from DOST-TAPI for the original PCT or NPE application.
- Must provide proof of prior support and current prosecution status of the application.
- Must submit updated documents, including legal fee invoices, examination fee receipts, and commercialization plans if applicable.
- For Company- or Corporation-Based Applicants:
- Must present a Secretary’s Certificate authorizing the representative to transact with DOST-TAPI.
- Must be legally registered and operating within the Philippines.
- For All Applicants (General Requirements):
- Must be a Filipino citizen or a Filipino-owned entity.
- Must submit a valid government-issued ID of the applicant or authorized representative.
- Must sign and submit the DOST-TAPI Data Privacy Consent Form.
- Must not be under any form of disqualification or sanction from DOST or its affiliated programs.
Application Requirements
To apply, you will need to prepare the following:
For Regular (Non-Project-Based) Applicants:
- Request Letter – General Assistance (Annex A4)
- Technology Disclosure Form (Annex B4)
- Proof of local IP filing with IPOPHL
- Search Report and Written Opinion (if available)
- International Search Report (for PCT)
- Valid government-issued ID
- Secretary’s Certificate (for corporations)
- Data Privacy Consent Form (Annex D)
- Optional: Business Model Canvas or Commercialization Plan
- Market Research Canvas (Annex E) or other proof of foreign market potential
For Project-Based Applicants (RDIs):
For Previously Assisted Applicants (PCT/NPE):
- Request Letter – Post Filing Assistance (Annex A5)
- Proof of previous assistance
- Updated prosecution status
- Legal/professional fee invoices
- Examination fee receipts
- Valid government-issued ID
- Secretary’s Certificate (for corporations)
- Market or commercialization plan (if applicable)
How to Apply for E-IPRAP
This section outlines the full application process for availing technical assistance under E-IPRAP, particularly for international IP filing. You simply need to follow these steps:
Step 1: Submit Your Proposal and Initial Requirements
Prepare and submit a formal application letter with complete documentary requirements to DOST-TAPI’s Records Section.
DOST-TAPI will then:
- Receive and log your submission.
- Forward your request to the Office of the Director for initial review.
- If your request falls within DOST-TAPI’s mandate, it will be endorsed to the Invention Development Division (IDD) for E-IPRAP evaluation.
Step 2: Evaluation of Your Application
This is sort of a formality check followed by a technical evaluation so you simply need to wait through this step.
DOST-TAPI will:
- Check if all your submitted documents are complete.
- If complete: They’ll notify you that your request is under evaluation.
- If incomplete: You’ll be notified to complete the submission.
Technical Evaluation
Once the application is deemed complete, then this is what happens next:
- Your application will undergo a detailed technical evaluation and validation of documents.
- Based on the results:
- If not recommended: A disapproval letter will be drafted, reviewed, and sent to you.
- If recommended: An approval letter and Conforme form will be prepared.
If Approved:
- DOST-TAPI will send you a Conforme letter.
- You must sign and return the Conforme within 15 working days.
- If you are outside Metro Manila, notarize the Conforme and send it back to DOST-TAPI.
Step 3: Signing and Returning the Conforme Letter
- Once you send the signed Conforme back, it will be forwarded to the E-IPRAP Program Manager.
- If required, the DOST-TAPI Legal Unit will notarize the Conforme letter.
Step 4: Assignment of Patent Agent
After the Conforme is processed, a Patent Agent will be assigned to work with you.
If an In-House Patent Agent is Assigned (PCT only):
- E-IPRAP identifies and prepares a Special Order (SO).
- The SO goes through internal review and approval by the Director.
If an External Patent Agent is Needed:
- E-IPRAP prepares a market scan and submits it to the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC).
- BAC conducts procurement following RA 9184 (Government Procurement Reform Act).
- A contract, purchase order, or job order is approved and sent to the chosen contractor.
Step 5: Receive Patent Agent Assignment Notification
- You will be informed who your assigned patent agent is.
- The agent will begin working with you on preparing international IP filings, claims, and specifications.
Total Processing Time
The process for the application for this program may take a while, so to set your expectations, here’s the processing timeline you can expect:
- If disapproved after formality check: 7 working days
- If disapproved after technical evaluation: 27 working days
- If disapproved at Director level: 35 working days
- If approved and using external patent agent: up to 90 working days and 6 hours
Withdrawal of Support
Take note that while DOST-TAPI can provide this support, they may also revoke the assistance. Some potential reasons that may cause such revocation of assistance include:
- Lack of available funds
- Falsified or inaccurate documents
- Non-submission of required documents
- Withdrawal of IP application without valid reason
- Unauthorized self-filing or conversion of applications
- Abandonment or inactivity in pursuing IP
- Misuse of funds or failure to comply with reporting rules
Depending on the issue’s severity, applicants may be asked to return the funds or may be disqualified from future DOST-TAPI programs.
Reminders for Applicants
To ensure a smooth process, you may want to take note of the following:
- This process includes multiple reviews to safeguard government funds and improve quality assurance in IP support.
- External patent agent contracting follows Republic Act 9184 (Government Procurement Reform Act).
- The program is subject to funding availability and alignment with DOST-TAPI’s mandates.
- Deadlines for returning signed documents and fulfilling other requirements must be followed to avoid delays or disqualification.
- Deadlines: International applications often require filing within 12 months of local IPOPHL submission.
- Renewal Fees: Covered only for initial stages; applicants handle renewals.
- Ownership Changes: Must be reported to DOST-TAPI.
- Submit regular progress reports on international IP status.
- Share any commercialization outcomes with DOST-TAPI.
- Acknowledge DOST-TAPI support in all filings and promotional activities.
Video: DOST-TAPI IPRAP
As a spinoff of the original DOST-TAPI IPR Assistance Program (IPRAP), understanding how the E-IPRAP provides support to Filipino innovators means understanding the original IPRAP that makes intellectual property protection more accessible. To help you better understand the DOST-TAPI IPRAP, watch this video:
Contact Information
For questions and other concerns, you may contact:
Engr. Richelle C. Malaay
- Program Manager, Senior Science Research Specialist
- Tel: (02) 8582-1450 loc. 2166 / 2150
- Email: info@tapi.dost.gov.ph