In more detail
About IPOS' PPH programs
As an overview, IPOS has PPH pilot programs with the IP offices of China, Mexico, the EU, Saudi Arabia, France and Malaysia. IPOS is also a participating office of the Global Patent Prosecution Highway pilot program, which has over 27 participating offices. IPOS endeavors to issue a first office action in about 10 months from the date of a PPH request and allows applicants to leverage the network of PPH partners for a faster patent grant.
Pilot initiative: fee savings
To better support businesses and allow greater access to PPH programs, IPOS has launched a pilot initiative offering fee refunds for search and/or examination reports. Under this initiative, applicants can obtain a 30% refund of official fees paid for search and examination requests when businesses make a PPH request between 15 September 2025 and 31 December 2027. The refund amounts are (a) SGD 615 for requests for search and examination reports and (b) SGD 426 for requests for examination reports only.
Partnership with Saudi Arabia
IPOS' bilateral PPH program with Saudi Arabia's IP office has also been extended indefinitely from 12 September 2025. The program will no longer require the earliest application to be filed with IPOS or Saudi Arabia's IP office, meaning greater accessibility and flexibility for businesses seeking patent protection in both jurisdictions.
Key takeaways
IPOS has been expanding the coverage of its PPH programs, as we also raised in our January 2025 client alert, which reported IPOS' expansion of its PPH programs with the IP offices of Indonesia and Malaysia. Applicants can request PPH any time before examination starts, giving businesses flexibility to align their IP strategy with commercial timelines.
PPH applications have significantly reduced prosecution time and costs for applicants. IPOS has reported an average 94% grant rate for PPH applications in Singapore and a 70% grant rate for patents at first office action.
Businesses can leverage Singapore as a strategic filing hub for multijurisdictional patent protection. IPOS' recent pilot initiative involving fee savings and extended partnership with Saudi Arabia represents IPOS' continued efforts to enhance its PPH program offerings and to position Singapore as a regional IP hub.
These developments are in line with IPOS' commitment to the Singapore IP Strategy 2030 (SIPS 2030) of strengthening Singapore's intangible asset/IP regime by enhancing the attractiveness of and reducing barriers to patent prosecution in Singapore.
* * * * *
© 2025 Baker & McKenzie. Wong & Leow. All rights reserved. Baker & McKenzie. Wong & Leow is incorporated with limited liability and is a member firm of Baker & McKenzie International, a global law firm with member law firms around the world. In accordance with the common terminology used in professional service organizations, reference to a "principal" means a person who is a partner, or equivalent, in such a law firm. Similarly, reference to an "office" means an office of any such law firm. This may qualify as "Attorney Advertising" requiring notice in some jurisdictions. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
