In response to the urgent need to address the effects of climate change, the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (“IPOPHL”) launched the Green Technology Incentive Program (“GreenTech Incentive Program”) for Patents, Utility Models (“UM”), and Industrial Designs (“ID”) through IPOPHL Memorandum Circular No. 2024-037. Through this initiative, the IPOPHL aims to encourage local inventors to develop green and sustainable technologies by waiving certain patents, UM, and ID application fees in favor of eligible inventors.
The GreenTech Incentive Program may be availed of by qualified applicants until 01 November 2025 or until thirty (30) inventions, sixty (60) utility models, and (60) industrial design applications have been qualified and filed. As of 03 June 2025, the IPOPHL is still accepting submissions of applications under this program.
Waiver of Fees
The IPOPHL shall waive the following fees in favor of qualified applicants under the program:
- early Publication Fees for Invention or Request for Substantive Examination fee; and
- second Publication Fee for UM and ID.
Prioritized Examination
Under the program, qualified applicants can benefit from prioritized examination, thus potentially reducing the time it takes to obtain a grant or registration.
Eligibility
To be qualified under the GreenTech Incentive Program, the following criteria must be fulfilled by applicants:
- Invention, UM and ID applications should relate to green and sustainable technology; and
- For Inventions, UM and ID, the claims must be directed to a single invention, utility model, or industrial design that materially enhances the quality of the environment, or that materially contributes to:
a. the discovery or development of renewable energy resources;
b.the more efficient utilization and conservation of energy resources; or
c. greenhouse gas emission reduction.
The list of acceptable categories of technology are found in Annex A of IPOPHL Memorandum Circular No. 2024-037.
To avail of the incentive program, qualified applicants must file a Request for Expedited Application under Green Technology along with the Request for the Waiver of Fees, Request for Patent, UM or ID Registration, and application documents. If found ineligible under the program, the applicant will be notified in writing, and the application will proceed with the normal process flow.
For more information, please refer to IPOPHL Memorandum Circular No. 2024-037.