Southern Leyte State U - ITSO receives prestigious Platinum Award

The Innovation and Technology Support Office (ITSO) of Southern Leyte State University, under the Knowledge and Technology Transfer Office (KTTO), has achieved a remarkable milestone by receiving, for the second time, the prestigious Platinum award alongside 35 other State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) at the ITSO Presidential Summit held at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati City on March 18, 2024.

This recognition was bestowed upon ITSO for its exceptional fulfillment of all requirements across various clusters, showcasing its dedication to innovation and technological advancement.

Recognizing the commendable effort of Dr. Francis Ann R. Sy, the Vice President for Research, Innovation, and Extension Office, who dedicatedly led and provided full support to KTTO. Engr. Khorina Aguilar, KTTO director, along with the two offices under KTTO, Rio Katrina Avila, the Head of ITSO, and Dr. Melvin Sarsale, Head of IPTBI, as well as the Patent drafters of SLSU ITSO. This award could not be achieved without the effort of faculty inventors and innovators.

The platinum award is the highest cluster award given to an ITSO with the following accomplishments: the conduct of foundation courses, patent searching, drafting and filing at least seven invention patents, and commercializing an IP.

Implemented by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), the clustering and reward system for academic partners, including ITSOs, serves to foster the creation of new products alongside conventional publications. Now in its third year, IPOPHL's initiative aims to elevate top-performing ITSOs through the ITSO 2.0 Program, guiding them to meet standards across Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum clusters. This program reflects IPOPHL's commitment to nurturing a future where innovation thrives, bridging academia and industry to drive shared prosperity at the nexus of innovation.

ITSO aims to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by prioritizing initiatives that promote quality education, industry innovation and infrastructure, sustainable cities and communities, and partnerships for the goals. Through these endeavors, ITSO endeavors to make meaningful strides towards building a more equitable, resilient, and prosperous future for all.