The “Pilot Program for Proactive Patent Examination for Emerging Industries,” launched by the Taiwan Intellectual Property Office (TIPO) in 2021, was originally scheduled to expire on December 31, 2025. During the implementation of the program, the average period from the filing of a request under the program to the issuance of an examination result was only 66 days. In light of the positive feedback from applicants and agents, as well as the favorable outcomes achieved, TIPO has decided to extend the pilot program for an additional year, effective January 1, 2026.
 
A brief overview of the program is provided below. Applicants eligible to participate in the program include: (1) startup companies established for fewer than eight years; (2) companies that have received the specified national innovation awards within the past two years; and (3) companies mentored by organizations commissioned by TIPO under the government’s science and technology development programs. Where an applicant’s request satisfies the requirements and limitations of the program and the invention patent application is subject to potential rejection, TIPO will issue search results and examination opinions within one month. In addition, TIPO will arrange an interview to explain the examiner’s grounds for rejection and to suggest possible amendments. If the applicant timely submits arguments or amendments following the interview, a notice of allowance or an examination report will be issued within one month.
 
With the extension of the pilot period, TIPO encourages applicants to make use of the program to expedite patent examination and refine patent strategies, thereby enhancing the competitiveness of emerging industries.
 
(Translated and adapted from a news release on TIPO’s official website)