PCT NATIONAL PHASE ENTRY
Singapore

Singapore became part of Patent Cooperation Treaty on February 23, 1995. It has a strong and well-regulated patent system that supports innovation and protects inventors' intellectual property rights. Singapore is an attractive place for patent registration and protection.

In the 2022 U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s International Intellectual Property (IP) Index, Singapore ranked 11th out of 55 countries worldwide. The index highlights Singapore's strengths, such as its advanced national IP framework and efforts to speed up research, patent examination, and grants. Singapore is also recognized as a global leader in patent protection and online copyright enforcement according to the index.

The major requirements and procedure to file a patent application in Singapore are mentioned below:

The designated period for submitting a patent application in Singapore under the framework of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) is 30 months from the earliest date of priority.

English is the mandated official language for Singaporean patent applications. Submitting an application in any other foreign language is strictly prohibited. In cases where the PCT application is not filed or published in English, a duly verified English translation of the specification becomes a necessary requirement. 

An extension of 18 months is graciously permitted for national phase entry beyond the original deadline. This generous allowance gives applicants more time to carefully get ready and plan strategically in the formal process.

The essential documents required to file national phase application are as follows:

• Verified English Translation
• Power of Attorney: applicants, regardless of their nationality or residence, don't need an agent for representation in Singapore but must have a local service address. If appointing or changing an agent, submission of a written authorization using Patents Form 37 for entry into the national phase alongside the payment of the specified fee.

No cost exemptions are provided for the patent application upon entering the national phase.

Filing a request for an examination report by completing Patents Form 12 and submitting the prescribed fee within 36 months from the declared priority date or, if no priority date is declared, from the application filing date. Alongside this request, provide a copy of the international search report and all documents referenced in that report.

Patent Prosecution Highway Program under the PCT 

Starting from November 1, 2014, the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) became a part of the Global Patent Prosecution Highway (GPPH) network and actively participates in the GPPH pilot program.

PCT-PPH is among several collaborative efforts. Various bilateral agreements have been established among patent offices to encourage worksharing. This facilitates patent applicants to seek expedited processing during the national phase, allowing patent examiners to leverage work products from other offices. These work products may encompass:

The opinions furnished by the International Searching Authority,

• The International Preliminary Examining Authority, or
• The international preliminary examination report under the PCT, are considered, subject to specific conditions.

The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore has entered into PCT-PPH agreements with:

• Brazil (BR): National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) 
• China (CN): China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA)
• Europe (EP): European Patent Office (EPO)

After a patent is granted, maintenance fees are due from the fifth year onward, calculated from the international filing date. Payment should be completed in the three months leading up to the fourth and subsequent anniversaries of the filing date. There's a grace period, allowing payment with an additional fee until the last day of the sixth month from the anniversary. For patents granted after 45 months from filing, renewal fees can be paid without an additional fee up to three months after the grant date or, with an additional fee, within six months following that three-month period.

Following the approval of the patent, it remains protected for a period of 20 years. Singapore allows an extension of the term for a patent by up to 5 years, especially when it includes a substance crucial to any pharmaceutical product.

In the Global Innovation Index 2023, which evaluates how well countries perform in terms of innovation, Singapore secured the fifth position as one of the most innovative nations globally.

The GII is released by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). This index evaluates countries in two main areas: innovation inputs and outputs, utilizing 80 indicators to rank 132 nations based on their ability for innovation and their success in implementing it. It serves as a widely acknowledged benchmarking tool, providing guidance to policymakers and businesses in fostering innovation.