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Pilot Program for Accelerated Examination of Invention Patent Applications Filed by Female Applicants
Pilot Program for Accelerated Examination of Invention Patent Applications Filed by Female Applicants
To encourage women to participate in innovation and invention, the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of the Ministry of Economic Affairs launched a “Pilot Program for Accelerated Examination of Invention Patent Applications Filed by Female Applicants” on July 1, 2025, for a trial period of one year. The IPO may, depending on examination capacity, adjust or terminate the program during the trial period. The program involves the following regulations:
A. Eligible Cases
1. This program applies only to invention patent applications.
2. Applicants must be natural persons (applications filed by legal entities are not eligible).
3. The applicant, or at least one of the applicants, must be a female natural person, who must also be the inventor or one of the inventors of the application.
4. The request must be filed by the eligible female applicant herself.
B. Requirements
1. For applicants with ROC nationality, their national identification number must be provided in the electronic application form.
2. For applicants with foreign nationality, relevant documentation verifying female identity must be submitted.
3. The request must be filed through the IPO electronic filing system.
4. Filing period:
(1)after receiving a notice of commencement of substantive examination issued by the IPO, and
(2)before the issuance of the first office action.
C. Quota Limitation
1. Total quota: limited to 50 cases during the trial period.
2. First and second months: maximum of 5 cases per month.
3. From the third month onward: maximum of 4 cases per month.
4. For each female applicant: a maximum of 5 requests under this program may be filed.
5. If the monthly limit is reached, the applicant can reapply the following month.
D. Examination
1. For eligible application: the IPO will proceed to undergo accelerated examination, and issue an office action or a decision of allowance/rejection within 6 months from the date of filing the accelerated examination request.
2. For ineligible application(s): the IPO will notify the applicant, and the application will be examined under the normal procedure.