Knowledge Highlights 25 September 2025
IPOS announces enhancements to Patent Prosecution Highway programmes
On 12 September 2025, the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (“IPOS”) announced enhancements to its Patent Prosecution Highway (“PPH”) programmes, providing greater accessibility and benefits for innovators and businesses.
Pilot initiative: Fee savings for using the PPH programme
IPOS issued Patents Circular No. 4/2025 on 12 September 2025 announcing that, to better support businesses and allow greater access to the PPH, IPOS is piloting an initiative where applicants can obtain a refund of 30% of official fees paid for requests for search and/or examination reports when they make a request to use the PPH from 15 September 2025 to 31 December 2027 (both dates inclusive). The refund amounts for requests for search and examination reports and requests for examination reports are S$615 and S$426 respectively. The refund for a request for search and examination report where the International Search Report / International Preliminary Report has been established by IPOS (for Patent Cooperation Treaty applications entering the national phase) is S$315.
Singapore has established a global network of more than 30 PPH partners including the intellectual property offices of China, Japan, Korea, the US, and the European Patent Office. Benefits of the PPH programme include:
- increased likelihood of patent grant (94% in Singapore);
- faster first office action within 10 months from the date of PPH request; and
- fewer office actions (about 70% of patents granted at first office action).
These benefits translate to streamlined processes and improved outcomes for both IPOS and applicants.
IPOS-SAIP PPH programme: Extended and enhanced
IPOS’ bilateral PPH programme with the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (“SAIP”) will be extended indefinitely from 12 September 2025. The programme will no longer require the earliest application to be filed with IPOS or SAIP. This enhancement means greater accessibility and flexibility for innovators and businesses seeking patent protection in both jurisdictions.
Detailed guidelines and application procedures relating to the IPOS-SAIP PPH programme are available on the IPOS website by clicking here and on the SAIP website by clicking here.
IPOS domestic and ASEAN patent acceleration programmes
Applicants may continue to tap on IPOS’ domestic and regional acceleration programmes with SG Patents FAST (where the timeframe for receipt of a first office action is either four or eight months from a successful application for acceleration), the ASEAN Patent Examination Co-operation (ASPEC), Collaborative Search and Examination (CS&E) programmes with Vietnam and Indonesia, re-registration programmes with Cambodia and Laos, and the PPH. More information on IPOS acceleration programs for expediting patent applications is available on the IPOS website - please click here.
Reference materials
The following materials are available on the IPOS website www.ipos.gov.sg:
