China-Singapore PPH Pilot Programme Extends for Five Years Until 2031

The China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) and the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) have recently made a joint decision to extend the China-Singapore Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) pilot programme for another five years, from 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2031.

The PPH pilot programme between the CNIPA and the IPOS, initially commenced on 1 September 2013, will complete its fourth extension by 31 August 2026. According to the pilot programme, applicants whose patent application having at least one claim determined to be patentable at one of the offices (the first office) may file a request with the other office for patent examination acceleration for a corresponding application under the PPH pathway, which allows work sharing by leveraging the first office's search and examination results.

Since the launch of its first PPH pilot programme in November 2011, the CNIPA has established PPH cooperation with patent examination offices in 38 countries or regions.