The final phase of technology licensing is the commercialization process. At the DOST Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI), commercialization is being done through technology transfer activities, led by the Technology Licensing Office (TLO) of the agency. 

The DOST-ASTI provides technology adaptation and commercialization processes to interested public and private sectors. DOST Regional Offices and Provincial Science and Technology Centers (PSTC) all over the Philippines usually facilitate technology transfer activities of DOST in-house technologies, wherein the DOST-ASTI actively participates. 

Through this, TLO looks for institutions (mostly private) who are willing to adapt the technologies through the Fairness Opinion Board (FOB) process. Right now, the TLO is focusing its marketing efforts for Meteorological Data Acquisition Stations for Information Dissemination (MASID) technologies and AI4MApping by the Remote Sensing and Data Science (DATOS) Help Desk. TLO is expecting licensees for the four stations namely, Tsunami Early Warning System (TEWS) - Alerting Station, Automated Rain Gauge (ARG) Station, Water Level Monitoring System (WLMS), and Water Level Monitoring Station with Rain Gauge Sensor (Tandem Station). Meanwhile, they are also looking for investors and/or licensees for TEWS, Flood Early Warning Station (FEWS), and Agrometeorological Station (Agromet). 

Upon adopting the technologies, the licensing terms are applied, and upfront fees¹ are paid upon signing a Technology Licensing Agreement (TLA). There are technologies however which have no upfront fees but must be paid within 60 days after signing a project or client contract. As for the royalty payments², it is paid annually at 5% of the adaptors gross sales for the technology. Meanwhile, the minimum revenue must also be paid at the end of each year. It must also be noted that the upfront fees are creditable as minimum revenue in the first year, and the minimum revenue is creditable to annual sales and the royalty payments³. 

For individuals, groups, or institutions that are interested in licensing the available technologies, the following requirements and steps are needed: (1) Letter of Intent (LOI) addressed to the DOST-ASTI Director, 2. Company Profile, (3) Business Plan / Financial Projection, (4) Latest Audited Financial Statement, (5) Business Permit (Mayor’s Permit), (6) SEC / DTI / CDA Registration, (7) BIR Registration, and (8) Published Articles / Press Releases / CSR History / List of Freebies / Feasibility Assessment. 

¹Upfront fee varies depending on MASID techs being licensed.
²A minimum upfront fee per year is required to be remitted to DOST-ASTI or 5% of the gross sales, whichever is higher.
³Other technologies like AI4Mapping would require a different percentage of royalty payment.

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The DOST-ASTI Technology Licensing Office (TLO) leads activities in Intellectual Property protection, commercialization, licensing, and technology transfer. It aims to bridge the gap between DOST-ASTI technologies and the public. For any queries with the DOST-ASTI TLO kindly email them at tlo@asti.dost.gov.ph, you may also visit their Facebook page here, or visit their project page through https://asti.dost.gov.ph/services/technology-licensing-office/.