Intellectual property filings from universities, colleges and research institutions in the Philippines reached a record high in 2025, the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) announced earlier this year.

IPOPHL reported that filings with its Innovation and Technology Support Offices (ITSOs) jumped 43.7% in 2025 to 3,242. ITSOs are specialized hubs at 103 universities and research institutions established by the IPOPHL to help researchers more easily access patent databases, protect their IP and commercialize their inventions. The previous high for such applications was 2,257 in 2024.

Of the total filings, 506 were patent applications, 858 were utility model filings, 454 were industrial design filings and 1,197 were copyright filings.

Nathaniel Arevalo, then-acting director general of IPOPHL, said in February that the turnout shows the growth of technology transfer and IP commercialization at universities and research institutions in the Philippines. “It highlights how research and innovation not only contributes to knowledge and societal benefits, but also generates tangible economic value for the institutions and stakeholders involved,” he said.

The programme, which is part of the World Intellectual Property Organization’s Technology and Innovation Support Center network, generated P24.3 million in revenue (US$400,000), up from P20.4 million (US$335,000) in 2024. ITSOs reported a 19% increase in income from IP assets in 2025, with earnings from licensing, direct sales and spin-offs.

The increased use of IPOPHL’s ITSOs comes at a time when the government is undertaking numerous efforts to advance IP awareness in the Philippines.

“We’re looking forward to sitting down with the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education to see how we could be able to increase the fire on the understanding of IP even at a younger age, especially at DepEd,” IPOPHL director general Teodoro Pascua said on the sidelines of the “Leveraging Intellectual Property as an Innovation Enabler and Fuel for Inclusive Economic Growth” in Pasay City. Even at a younger age, people should be able to recognize what is IP and creativeness.”

IPOPHL aims to build an IP-centered culture, he said, according to the Philippine News Agency. Pascua cited the need to have a “more purposive educational system” where at an early age or when they are still in basic education, students are taught about all their potentials, not just in academics but also on the creative side as well.

“That’s the reason why we want to partner with [educational institutions],” he said.

Department of Trade and Industry Undersecretary Allan Gepty said at the same conference that in the world of IP, a simple idea can turn into something big.

“Intellectual property is about empowering people with the knowledge, tools and opportunities to transform ideas into solutions, creativity into enterprise and innovation into economic value,” he said. Gepty said that IP “has become a powerful enabler” of innovation, entrepreneurship and inclusive economic growth. “It empowers creators, strengthens businesses and allows ideas to move beyond imagination. From the perspective of international trade, intellectual property is a springboard for a modern and innovation-driven economy,” he said.

It is with this ongoing improvement in IP protection in the Philippines that we turned to IP professionals in the region in order to understand better what clients need today. Asia IP asked a large number of professionals – mostly in-house counsel and corporate legal managers – what they were looking for from their legal service providers. From their answers, we have compiled our list of the Philippines’ IP Experts, those lawyers who understand what their clients need and are able to provide them with the best practical advice.

The Philippines’ largest IP firms and practices are well-represented on our list, with Angara Abello Concepcion Regala & Cruz Law Offices (Victor N. De Leon, Alex Ferdinand Fider, John Paul M. Gaba, Jose Eduardo T. Genilo and Richmond Lee) placing five lawyers on the list. Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia (Patricia A.O. Bunye, Rowanie A. Nakan, Divina Gracia E. Pedron and Susan D. Villanueva) and Villaraza & Angangco (Katrina Doble, Antonio Miguel C. Lu, Danielle Francesca T. San Pedro and Bienvenido I. Somera, Jr.) each placed four on the list.

A total of 37 different firms placed at least one lawyer on the list, showcasing the breadth of the intellectual property practice in Manila and elsewhere in the Philippines.

Our survey includes only those lawyers working at law firms in the Philippines.

Most of the lawyers named to our list have multiple practice specialties. Many of them are litigators, while others concentrate on prosecution work or provide strategic advice.

All of them have something in common: they are experts in their fields and, in one way or another, they provide extra value for their clients. They are Asia IP’s IP Experts for the Philippines. – GREGORY GLASS

The Philippines’ IP Experts is based solely on independent editorial research conducted by Asia IP. As part of this project, we turned to thousands of in-house counsel in the Philippines, Asia and around the world, as well as Philippines-focused partners at international law firms, and asked them to nominate private-practice lawyers, including foreign legal consultants, advisers and counsel.

The final list reflects the nominations received combined with the input of the editorial team at Asia IP, which has more than 55 years of collective experience in researching and understanding the legal market in the Philippines.

All private practice intellectual property lawyers working at law firms in the Philippines were eligible for inclusion in the nominations process; there were no fees or any other requirements for inclusion in the process.

The names of our 60 IP Experts are published here. Each IP Expert was given the opportunity to include their biography and contact details in print and on our website, for which a fee was charged.