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Patent Prosecution Highway

Learn more about the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH), which offers faster and more efficient patent examination through IPOS' global partnerships.

Last updated 25 March 2025

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Benefits
How to qualify for PPH
Who are the IPOS PPH-Partner offices?
How to initiate PPH
Notifications

Benefits

Higher grant rate

Average 92% grant rate across IP offices in 2023 (94% in Singapore).

Faster office action

IPOS endeavours to issue a first office action in about 10 months from the date of PPH request.

Fewer office actions

About 70% of patents granted at first office action in Singapore.

Complimentary

Flexible request

Any time before examination starts.

Global network

Leverage on IPOS’ global network of more than 30 PPH partners including China, Japan, Korea, the United States and the European Patent Office. See below for more details.

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 or patentable in application(s) filed in IPOS or in any of IPOS’ PPH-partner offices.

  • Request for PPH any time before examination has started, when filing with IPOS.

Who are the IPOS PPH-Partner offices?

  • IPOS has PPH pilot programmes with the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI), the European Patent Office (EPO), the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP), and the National Institute of Industrial Property of France (INPI France), and the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO).

  • IPOS is also a participating office of the Global Patent Prosecution Highway (GPPH) pilot programme, which has over 27 participating offices. The GPPH network includes the Japan Patent Office, the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Korean Intellectual Property Office and the German Patent and Trademark Office.

  • 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.

How to initiate PPH

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

Requesting search and examination or examination with IPOS

  • File Patents Form 11 or Patents Form 12 to request for search and examination or examination

  • Select the checkbox for “ASPEC/PPH” on Patents Form 11 or Patents Form 12 (PF11/PF12) and attach the relevant PPH documents.

After requesting search and examination or examination with IPOS

  • You can request for PPH anytime, provided the examiner has not started work.

  • Email PT_acceleration@ipos.gov.sg with the subject: "PPH acceleration requested“, the intention to make a PPH request, the IPOS application number; and whether amendments are required to conform the Singapore claims to the foreign allowed claims.

  • IPOS will advise you on the eligibility. If amendments for PPH request are required and examination has not started, IPOS will issue an invitation to amend (ITA).

Flowchart of PPH request process.

Notifications