by Marietta Esperanza P. Cruz
The forum on Commercialization and Industry Partnership conducted by the Intellectual Property Unit (IPU) – Innovation and Technology Support Office ( ITSO) at the MSU-IIT Boardroom on April 11, 2014 aimed to promote innovation and technology development. It also provided opportunities for accelerating commercialization of researches through intellectual property protection and by fostering collaborative work with industries. The activity was done in support of the Institute’s pursuit of becoming a research university.
Invited speakers during forum were Dr. Gonzalo “Al” Serafica, a Balik-Scientist, and Dr. Richard S. Abendan, the Research and Industry Partnerships Manager of the Science, Technology Research, and Innovation for Development (STRIDE) Project of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in the Philippines.
Serafica who holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Rennselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York talked on “Technology Innovation & Commercialization: The Xylos Experience”.
Serafica has a 20-year experience in technology commercialization. He co-founded Xylos Corporation which developed and commercialized various microbial cellulose-derived medical devices from “nata de coco” ranging from permanent implants as brain patch or dural substitute, to soft tissue replacements and adhesion barriers, and artificial skin or advanced wound dressings for treating chronic wounds. He holds 10 US and 20 international granted patents.
Abendan for his part talked on “University – Industry Collaborations : USAID STRIDE Program”. He has a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Georgetown University in Washington DC.
As the Research and Industry Partnerships Manager of USAID–STRIDE Program in the Philippines, he actively promotes collaboration between Universities and Industries. The five-year USAID-STRIDE Program provides grants to strengthen applied research activity in Philippine universities and industries and to help drive innovation–led growth in the country.
The forum was attended by Institute researchers and representatives from some of the Institute industry partners – Holcim Phils. Inc.,, Phil. Sinter Corporation, Mabuhay Vinyl Corporation Newtech Pulp , Pilmico Foods Corporation and from the Phil. Institute of Chemical Engineers ( PICHE ).
By M. Esperanza P. Cruz, IPU-ITSO for OC-OPI
Topics : IPU-ITSO