A Singapore Government Agency Website

Acceleration Programmes

We offer several options the applicant may explore to speed up the patent grant process.

This will help:

  1. to provide early certainty to the patent application that you wish to protect;
  2. to facilitate discussion promptly with interested investors;
  3. to strengthen your company’s position in the market space ahead of time; and
  4. to allow ease of synchronisation of your patent rights formation with product development

For more information on how to file a patent, please check out the filing procedure for a patent application.


Domestic Acceleration Programmes

Applicants can obtain a Singapore patent grant within 12 months from the filing of the application, subject to fulfilling certain requirements.

Read the PDF icon requirements to qualify for 12 Months File-to-Grant.

The SG IP Fast Track (“SG IP FAST”) is a pilot programme that will end on 29 Apr 2022.* Previously known as the SG Patent Fast Track programme, the programme has been expanded to include the acceleration of trademark and registered design applications. From 1 Sep 2020, applicants with a patent application accelerated under SG IP FAST can request acceleration of related trademark and registered design applications. This will better support innovators and enterprises as they build and manage their IP portfolio, and commercialise their creations.

Accelerated timelines for the different types of IP are as follows:

  • Patent applications can be granted in as fast as 6 months.
  • Straightforward trademark applications can be registered in as fast as 3 months. Other trademark applications can be registered in as fast as 6 months.
  • Registered design applications can be registered in as fast as 1 month.

SG IP FAST is available to patent applications filed for all inventions across all technological sectors.

With an expedited patent grant, innovators and enterprises gain certainty about their scope of rights. The early Singapore Search and Examination report will also give them a competitive advantage, as a means to springboard into global markets from Singapore.

Find out more about the eligibility criteria and request procedures for SG IP FAST from our SG IP Fast Track Circular.

* There will be a cap of 5 patent applications a month under SG IP FAST, which will be reset on the first day of every month. Unutilised capacity will be rolled over to the next month, subject to a maximum cap of 10 applications a month. There will also be a cap of 10 patent applications per year per entity (individual or corporate). There will not be a cap on the number of trademark and registered design applications that can be accelerated.


International and Regional

The ASEAN Patent Examination Co-operation ("ASPEC") was launched on 15 June 2009.

It is the regional patent work-sharing programme among 9 participating ASEAN Member States IP Offices of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam.

Applicants may use the search and examination ("S&E") reports of participating IP Offices to accelerate the patenting process in any one of the other participating IP Offices.

From 27 August 2019, applicants can enjoy 2 new features under ASPEC:

  • ASPEC AIM - a committed turnaround time of 6 months to receive the first office action if an ASPEC request is made for Industry 4.0 patent applications and
  • PCT-ASPEC - additional choice of relying on a Patent Cooperation Treaty ("PCT") reports issued from an ASEAN International Searching Authority/International Preliminary Examining Authority ("ISA/IPEA")[1]

     

Features of ASPEC

  • Fast-track patenting process in any 9 ASEAN IP Office
  • One common form with no additional fee
  • Operate in English resulting in potential cost saving for translation
  • ASPEC requests can be made electronically through the ASEAN IP Portal

ASPEC Diagram


How to qualify

You may consider using ASPEC if you have corresponding patent applications at any 2 participating IP Offices and one of the offices has issued an examination report[2] indicating at least one allowable claim. The participating IP Office that issued the examination report is the “first IP Office”. Under PCT-ASPEC, the ASEAN ISA/IPEA that issued the international preliminary examination report/written opinion is the first IP Office. The participating IP Office where the ASPEC Request Form is filed is the “second IP Office”.


ASPEC and the new features, scope and procedures

 

ASPEC

ASPEC AIM

ASPEC Acceleration for Industry 4.0 Infrastructure and Manufacturing

PCT-ASPEC

Patent Cooperation Treaty-ASPEC

Feature

Rely on national written opinion or final examination report issued by participating IP Offices

Prioritise Industry 4.0 patent applications for 1st office actions to be issued within 6 months

Broaden the use of ASPEC to rely on PCT reports issued from an ASEAN ISA/IPEA

Duration and Capacity

Since 2009

Acceptance of written opinion will be implemented for ASPEC request made on or after 15 June 2021 NEW

 

2-year pilot (27 August 2019 to 26 August 2021)

50 applications per year

3-year pilot (27 August 2019 to 26 August 2022)

100 applications per year

Type of Invention

All types

Inventions related to Industry 4.0

(Refer to the applicable IPCs excel-icon here)

All types

Qualifying criteria

ASPEC request can be filed at any participating IP Office if you have

(i) filed a corresponding patent application for the same invention in any other participating IP Office and
(ii) Written opinion or final examination report issued by one of the participating IP Offices with at least one allowable claim

Scope

Applicable to written opinion or final examination report established by participating IP Offices.

If IPOS is first IP Office, the result will be based on:

  • a request for a search report (from Patent Form 10); or
  • a request for a S&E report (from Patent Form 11); or
  • a request for an examination report (from Patent Form 12)

Applicable if the first IP Office determines that the invention is related to Industry 4.0

 

 

Applicable to PCT reports established by ASEAN ISA/IPEA but not extended to supplementary international search reports

 

Fee

No additional fee

Time period to file ASPEC request

Any time before final decision of grant or refusal

Procedures and documentation required

1. File the following documents in the second IP Office:

  • Completed ASPEC Request Form where applicable[2]
  • Copy of the written opinion or final examination report of a corresponding patent application
  • Copy of claims referred to with at least one allowable claim

If relying on a written opinion for ASPEC

2. Email (aspec@ipos.gov.sg) and the second IP Office ASPEC focal point with the following information:

  1. Application no. from first IP Office;
  2. Desired second IP Office and application no. in the Second IP Office;
  3. Date of request; and
  4. Applicant.

1. File the following documents in the second IP Office:

  • Completed ASPEC Request Form where applicable[3] (To indicate it is an ASPEC AIM request in the ASPEC form or cover letter)
  • Copy of the written opinion or final examination report of a corresponding patent application
  • Copy of claims referred to with at least one allowable claim

 2. Email (aspec@ipos.gov.sg) and the second IP Office ASPEC AIM focal point[3] with the following information:

  1. Application no. from first IP Office;
  2. Desired second IP Office and application no. in the Second IP Office;
  3. Date of request; and
  4. Applicant.

 

1. File the following documents in the second IP Office:

  • Completed ASPEC Request Form where applicable[2] (To indicate it is an PCT- ASPEC request in the ASPEC form or cover letter)
  • Copy of written opinion or international preliminary examination report established by an ASEAN ISA/IPEA for a corresponding patent application (International Search report should also be provided where applicable.)
  • Copy of claims referred to with at least one allowable claim

2. Email (aspec@ipos.gov.sg) and second IP Office PCT-ASPEC focal point[3] with the following information:

  1. PCT application no;
  2. Desired second IP Office and application no. in the second IP Office;
  3. Date of request;
  4. Applicant.

[1] Currently, ASEAN ISA/IPEA refers to the IP Offices of Singapore and the Philippines.

[2] For ASPEC request made on or after 15 June 2021, written opinion is an acceptable S&E result for all participating AMS IP Offices except the IP Office of Thailand. More than one written opinion from participating AMS IP Offices may be used.

[3] It is mandatory to submit an ASPEC request form to the IP Offices of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR., Malaysia, Philippines & Thailand.


More information on ASPEC

For any questions on ASPEC, you are welcome to contact us at aspec@ipos.gov.sg.  



The Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) is a programme between IP Offices where the examination process of a patent application in one IP Office can be accelerated by referencing the examination results from another IP Office. Such a work-sharing arrangement allows applicants to obtain corresponding patents faster and more efficiently.

See our PPH statistics at a glance.

How to qualify for PPH

  • Corresponding or related patent applications for the same invention filed in the IPOS and in any of IPOS’ PPH-partner offices; and
  • Claim(s) that are determined to be allowable in application(s) filed in IPOS or in any of IPOS’ PPH-partner offices.

Who are the IPOS PPH-partner offices?

  • IPOS has PPH pilot programmes with the National Institute of Industry Property Ministry of Economy of Brazil (INPI), the China National Intellectual Property (CNIPA), the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI) and the European Patent Office (EPO).
  • IPOS is also a participating office of the Global Patent Prosecution Highway (GPPH) pilot programme.
  • Under the GPPH pilot, a request for accelerated examination of an IPOS patent application can be made by relying on the patent search and examination results (national work products) or international search and/or examination results under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) (PCT work products) established by any of the other GPPH participating offices.
  • The GPPH network has over 27 participating offices including the Japan Patent Office, the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Korean Intellectual Property Office and the German Patent and Trademark Office.

How to initiate PPH

  • PPH is to be initiated by the applicant. A PPH request is to be filed with the IP Office where the examination process of the patent application is to be accelerated.

Notifications



1) Re-register their Singapore patents at the MIH or the DIP

IPOS has patent cooperation with the Ministry of Industry & Handicraft (MIH) of Cambodia and the Department of Intellectual Property (DIP) of Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Laos) respectively to provide greater support to innovators seeking protection in Cambodia and Laos. Under the cooperation, applicants will be able to:

Cambodia  Laos 
Re-register their Singapore patents at the MIH

A Singapore patent can be re-registered in Cambodia subject to the following conditions:

• The Singapore patent must be in force at the time of lodgement of re-registration request;

• The Singapore patent must have a filing date on or after 22 January 2003; and

• The Singapore patent must meet the Cambodian requirements for patentability

Applicants without an address for service in Cambodia may submit their request through a Cambodia patent agent firm or law firm.

Please refer to detailed guideline on the re-registration process.

The official form and continuation sheets for re-registering a Singapore patent in Cambodia are as follows:   
Official Form and Continuation Sheet 		 Re-register their Singapore patents at the DIP

A Singapore patent can be re-registered in Laos subject to the following conditions:

• The Singapore patent must be in force at the time of lodgement of re-registration request;

• The Singapore patent must have a filing date on or after 17 January 2002; and

• The Singapore patent must meet the Laotian requirements for patentability

Please refer to detailed guideline on the re-registration process. 



2) Submit an IPOS-issued Search and Examination (S&E) report to the MIH or the DIP for the grant of a Cambodia or Laos patent application


Cambodia  Laos 
Submit an IPOS-issued Search and Examination (S&E) report to MIH for the grant of a Cambodia patent application

Patent applicants who have a Cambodia related patent application may request IPOS to submit a copy of  the (i) final S&E report issued by IPOS and (ii) final specifications of the Singapore related patent application to the MIH for the grant of a Cambodia patent application.
 
To facilitate the grant of the Cambodia patent application, the applicant may also request for the specifications of the Cambodia related patent application to be amended accordingly to the final specifications of the Singapore related patent application.

Please refer to the detailed procedure for the submission process, including a non-exhaustive list of examples of related patent applications.   		 Submit an IPOS-issued Search and Examination (S&E) report to DIP for the grant of a Laos patent application

Patent applicants who have a Laos related patent application may request IPOS to submit a copy of  the (i) final S&E report issued by IPOS and (ii) final specifications of the Singapore related patent application to the DIP for the grant of a Laos patent application. 

To facilitate the grant of the Laos patent application, the applicant may also request for the specifications of the Laos related patent application to be amended accordingly to the final specifications of the Singapore related patent application.




Besides patents, applicants can also re-register their Singapore design in Cambodia. Click here for more information.



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