For Chinese companies going global, the hardest part is often watching a patent “wait in line” overseas. A patent filed for the Singapore market can sit in examination for two or three years. But there is a mechanism that lets you jump the queue—the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH). In August 2026, China’s National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) announced a five-year extension of the China-Singapore PPH pilot, giving companies with Southeast Asian plans greater certainty.
What is the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH)?
PPH is a work-sharing fast-track between patent offices of different countries or regions. In plain terms: if your patent has already been found “allowable” by Office A, you can request accelerated examination at Office B, which will refer to A’s results—shortening grant time and reducing response costs.
- Nature: examination-result mutual reference and resource sharing. It is not an exemption from examination, nor a guarantee of grant.
- Value: faster overseas grants, earlier market positioning, and lower agency and response costs.
Key points of the China-Singapore PPH extension (2026.9.1 to 2031.8.31)
By joint decision of CNIPA and the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore, the China-Singapore Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) pilot is extended for five years from 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2031.
- You may request participation if the application shares the same earliest date (which may be the priority date or filing date of the corresponding application) with the corresponding application.
- Since China launched its first PPH pilot in November 2011, CNIPA has established PPH cooperation with patent offices in 38 countries and regions.
How Chinese applicants can use this fast-track
- Home first, then overseas: usually secure an allowable result in China or Singapore first, then request accelerated examination by the other office.
- Prepare the correspondence documents: office actions of the corresponding application, claim correspondence table, and explanation of allowable claims.
- Mind the window: file the request after the corresponding application’s examination result and before the home application’s examination closes.
For innovators with multi-country filings, PPH is a highly cost-effective accelerator. Note that PPH only speeds up examination—it does not guarantee the grant.
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This article introduces the intellectual property system of the People’s Republic of China (China). For the latest official rules, please refer to the competent authorities.
常见问题
Does PPH exempt examination or guarantee grant?
No. PPH only accelerates examination; the office independently assesses patentability and does not guarantee a grant.
Until when is the China-Singapore PPH extended?
From 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2031.
Which applications can use the China-Singapore PPH?
Those sharing the same earliest date (priority or filing date) with the corresponding application.
How many PPH partners does China have?
As of 2026, CNIPA has PPH cooperation with patent offices in 38 countries and regions.
来源：国家知识产权局（CNIPA）局要闻，2026-08-28。原文链接：中新（加坡）专利审查高速路试点项目延长
本文为政策解读，仅供参考，不构成官方解读与法律意见。如需进一步咨询，请联系合肥知海易达专利代理事务所（机构代码 34408）。