Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU) took a bold step toward advancing its research and innovation culture by hosting the writeshop titled “Bridging Research and Innovation: Patent Drafting and Prior Art Search Writeshop for DMMMSU Researchers,” a two-day training session conducted across the University’s six operating units.
The Innovation and Technology Commercialization Office (ITCO), under the leadership of Dr. Angelina T. Gonzales, Vice President for Research, Development, and Innovation, organized the activity to help researchers transform their ideas into protected intellectual property.
The innovation drive began at the Mid La Union Campus (MLUC) on June 17-18, 2025, followed by the Open University System (OUS) on June 19-20, the South La Union Campus (SLUC) on June 23-24, the Northern La Union Campus (NLUC) on June 25-26, the Sericulture Research and Development Institute (SRDI) on June 30-July 1, and the National Apiculture Research, Training and Development Institute (NARTDI) on June 27 and July 2.
A total of 127 researchers from DMMMSU’s six operating units joined the training, eager to sharpen their skills in patent drafting and prior art search, which are essential steps in turning research into real-world solutions.
DMMMSU’s own experts, including Prof. Victoria N. Malaya, ITCO Director; Engr. Edwin F. Rimas, MLUC Head; Engr. Rhodora S. Mortela, Project Staff of the Innovation and Technology Support Office; Engr. Anielyn P. Lopez, SRDI Head; and Dr. Anabella G. Valdez, IPTBDO Coordinator. They guided participants through the ins and outs of crafting strong patent claims, writing effective descriptions, and navigating global patent databases such as WIPO, PatentScope, and Google Patents.
Dr. Jo-Anne Villar (NLUC), Mr. David de Castro (NARTDI), Prof. Ledkaren R. Zamudio (SLUC), Prof. Precilla Abellera (OUS), and the ITCO staff served as facilitators at the workshop. Together, they provided one-on-one mentoring and support throughout the two-day write-shop.
Participants worked intensively and collaboratively. They produced 95 drafts of intellectual property applications, including 8 patents, 31 utility models, 26 industrial designs, 5 trademarks, and 25 copyrights. The outputs exceeded expectations.
By offering this write shop, DMMMSU aims to bridge the gap between academic research and practical innovation. The initiative directly supports the university’s goal of becoming an innovation leader by 2025 and contributes to the country’s broader push for research utilization and commercialization.
“This is more than just a training,” said Prof. Malaya. “This is about empowering our researchers to take ownership of their innovations and protect them for the benefit of society.”As the university moves forward, it continues to build a research environment where innovation can thrive and where ideas are protected. (By Ayu/Maricon C. Viduya)
