Researchers and inventors who need patent information can now go to any of the three Department of Science and Technology agencies that have patent libraries. Formally called the Innovation and Technology Support Offices (ITSO), these patent libraries can be found in DOST-Technology Application and Promotion Institute and DOST-National Capital Region in Bicutan Taguig City, and the DOST-Technology Resource Center in EDSA, Guadalupe, Makati City.

Patent libraries help universities and research institutions to access patent information and make use of the patent system.

“Patent information is very important to researchers and inventors,” said DOST Secretary Mario Montejo. “Information guides them in the research and development process to optimize resources and minimize loss.”

Through the patent libraries, people seeking patent information would know if a patent has been filed for a certain technology. These specialized libraries also provide information on the distinctions of technologies that appear to be somewhat similar. They are also sources of information on what is new (the invention) and on what is already known (the state-of-the-art). Patent documents also generally contain information that can not be disclosed in any other form of literature.

Patent document can also serve as basis for other inventors or researchers to innovate or apply new developments on current technologies.

The establishment of ITSOs in various R&D institutions is an initiative of the Intellectual Property of the Philippines. The ITSO network, including the said three DOST offices, will be under the supervision of IPOPHIL. The network will build the institutional capacity of universities, R&D entities, government field offices, industry service providers, consultants and associations to teach and conduct, on their own, patent searches and patent drafting, and provide assistance in patent prosecution.

Thus, through the ITSOs, individuals needing patent information can have access to a patent search facility and library for patent information, undergo skills training in patent searching, request patent search services; and be included in the organization of community of patent information users.

ITSOs will also assist clients in rendering intellectual property audit and evaluation services, and in providing licensing support and advice of patent-related documents, papers and statistics.

" Who pioneered the padding or translational technique now widely used in complexity theory? Dr. Carlos H. Ibarra, a Filipino professor at University of California (Santa Barbara) who has been a leading researcher on the design and analysis of algorithms, the theory of computation, computational complexity, parallel computing and digital libraries. "