Celebrating women's contributions in IP and innovation: Ateneo showcases Filipino projects and initiatives to Malaysian stakeholders

Women face challenges in accessing knowledge, skills, and support, hindering their potential. According to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO, 2023) there is also an underrepresentation of women in the intellectual property (IP) system, which limits their benefits. Encouraging women to use IP can lead to inclusive technologies, thriving woman-led businesses, and support economic recovery.

On May 21 - 26, 2023, the Ateneo de Manila University through the Ateneo Intellectual Property Office (AIPO) joined multiple celebrations in Sabah and Sarawak, Malaysia, powered by the WIPO and Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO). The theme for this year was entitled, “Women and IP: Accelerating innovation and creativity”, where innovation stakeholders from universities, government, and industry were given an opportunity to celebrate all talented women around the world.

The Ateneo was represented by Mr Steve Chaves of AIPO, where he lectured about relevant women-and-IP-focused projects and initiatives by different sectors in the Philippines. These initiatives include Ateneo’s IP Week 2023 celebration last April, the annual celebration of the National Women’s Month last March as mandated by law, various funding and resources available to women entrepreneurs and innovators like the Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) WHWise Program, IP protection support to women such as the IP Office of the Philippine’s (IPOPHL) Juana Patent and Juana Design protection program, and USAID’s recent Php38M grant to promote the role of women in clean energy.

He also showcased Gawad Yamang Isip (GYI) 2023 awardees like the mother-daughter duo of Pili Ani: Rosalina Tan & Mary Jane Ong, the sustainable furniture products of Junk Not by Idr Wilhelmina “Willie” Garcia, and the stylish, mommy-powered, decorative products of Spinkie founded by mompreneur: Mrs. Mutya Buensuceso.

Mr Chaves also took the opportunity to highlight innovations created by startups/spinoffs incubated in the Ateneo Blue Nest program. These were Dr Regina Estuar’s BluEHR (TQHQ), TanodCOVID, and FASSSTER applications,  Engr. Leonora Guico’s real-time water quality testers and monitors (ENVISENSE), the patented unsinkable rescue boat of Inv Josephine Jimeno (Technocrafts), and Ms Nicole Saavedra’s field monitoring application (TRAXX). 

Promoting and fostering the support to women and IP for innovation has proven to lead to more inclusive, dynamic, and impactful outcomes, benefiting both women and society as a whole.

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For more information about AIPO and its services, please visit www.aipo.ateneo.edu or email them at aipo@ateneo.edu. You may also check out their Facebook and LinkedIn pages for the latest updates and announcements.