PCT NATIONAL PHASE ENTRY
Republic of Moldova

The Republic of Moldova has been a Contracting Party to the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property and the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) since December 25, 1991. Additionally, the country is a signatory to the Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for Patent Procedures, as well as the Patent Law Treaty (PLT). Following a validation agreement with the European Patent Organization, European Patents have been valid in the Republic of Moldova since November 1, 2015.

AGEPI (State Agency on Intellectual Property) began its operations in 1993, following the Republic of Moldova's accession to key international agreements. On March 11 of that year, the Moldovan Parliament approved the country's membership in the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property. Additionally, Moldova joined the Madrid Agreement for the International Registration of Marks and the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) in the same year.

The deadline for entering the Moldovan national phase of a PCT application is 31 months from the priority date.

A PCT-based patent application in Moldova must be submitted in Romanian. If the application is filed in a foreign language, the applicant must provide a Romanian translation within three months of entering the national phase.

In Moldova, there is no provision for an extension to file a late patent application.

Power of Attorney: The Power of Attorney should be submitted along with the application or within three months of filing. It does not require legalization or notarization.

No cost exemptions are available for patent applications in the Republic of Moldova.

The substantive examination must be requested, and the applicable official fee paid, within 30 months from the date of entry into the national phase.

The initial renewal fees, covering the first year through the year in which a decision is issued, are payable concurrently with the official grant fees. Subsequent annual renewal fees must be paid prior to the anniversary of the international filing date. Late payments may be accepted within six months of the expiration of the deadline, provided that a surcharge is paid.

In the Republic of Moldova, the standard patent term is 20 years from the application filing date. However, for pharmaceutical and agrochemical patents, the term can be extended by up to 5 years through a Supplementary Protection Certificate (SPC).

In the 2024 Global Innovation Index (GII), the Republic of Moldova is ranked 68th out of 133 economies. It holds the 17th position among the 34 economies in the upper-middle-income group and ranks 36th among the 39 European economies. Additionally, the country has improved its standing in innovation inputs, now ranked 80th, a position higher than last year. The Republic of Moldova performs best in Creative Outputs (51st), Market Sophistication (63rd), Knowledge and Technology Outputs (64th), and Human Capital and Research (68th).

Moldova, a European nation, has faced longstanding development challenges but is now undergoing EU-supported reforms aimed at boosting its economy and aligning more closely with the European Union. While issues like poverty and reliance on energy imports persist, the country has seen encouraging growth, especially in areas such as IT and manufacturing. Moldova is also committed to advancing sustainable development and enhancing its role within the EU through initiatives like the Reform and Growth Facility.