Filipino inventors now have access to zero-interest loans to help bring their patented technologies to market, following the relaunch of an improved government financing program.

The Department of Science and Technology’s Technology Application and Promotion Institute (DOST-TAPI), in partnership with the Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank), rolled out the new version of the Innovation and Technology (i-TECH) Lending Program — dubbed i-TECH 2.0 — on 15 July during the PhilippiNEXT 2025 exposition at Okada Manila.

In a key change from the original program, LandBank has scrapped its previous loan ceiling and interest charges. Funding will now be based on the actual needs of the project, with up to 85 percent of the total cost covered.

“We’ve also waived interest charges making the loans interest-free,” said LandBank president Ma. Lynette V. Ortiz. “Through these enhancements, we hope to see more Filipino innovators take the lead, transforming bold ideas into tangible solutions that uplift lives and move our country forward.”

The partnership was formalized in a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by DoST-TAPI, LandBank and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), which has also pledged support to help transfer government-developed technologies to the market.

“Through this partnership, we are committing to a framework that will unlock new opportunities for our PEZA-registered enterprises while empowering Filipino inventors to actively participate in the ecozone value chain,” said PEZA deputy director for Policy and Planning Anidelle Joy Alguso.

The original version of the i-TECH program, launched in 2017, offered loans at a five percent annual interest rate, with zero-interest options limited to projects funded through DoST’s Invention Guarantee Fund. Funding was split between TAPI (40 percent at zero interest), LandBank (45 percent at 5 percent) and the borrower (15 percent).

With i-TECH 2.0, the structure is simpler and faster. Application processing, which previously followed a step-by-step sequence involving separate evaluations, will now be done concurrently. Technical, financial and screening committee reviews will run simultaneously to shorten processing time.

“Processing of applications always starts with the evaluation by DoST-TAPI before proceeding to the financial evaluation of LandBank,” explained Romeo M. Javate, chief of DoST-TAPI’s Investment and Business Operation Division.

To qualify, applicants must be Filipino-owned corporations or partnerships with active intellectual property rights — either a patent, utility model, or industrial design — with at least one year of validity at the time of application. Inventors must be either majority stockholders or managing partners of the applying entity.

As of 2025, six inventors have already benefited from the program, according to Javate.

DoST-TAPI director Atty. Marion Ivy D. Decena encouraged more Filipino innovators to take advantage of the improved system.

“We invite our inventors to avail the program and leverage the opportunity where they can reach a wider market for their inventions,” she said during the MoU signing ceremony.