Singapore and Indonesia officially signed a collaboration agreement on January 2, 2025, under the Collaborative Search and Examination (CS&E) program for patents. Launched by the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) and Indonesia’s Directorate General of Intellectual Property (DGIP), the initiative aims to accelerate patent examinations and enhance services for inventors in both countries.

The program prioritizes faster processing, with initial substantive examinations completed in significantly less time. No additional fees are required, but applications must adhere to specific limits, including a maximum of 20 claims and 3 independent claims. The program also operates under a set monthly and annual quota shared between IPOS and DGIP.

The CS&E program will run until January 1, 2027, as a pilot project. This collaboration strengthens ASEAN cooperation, leveraging the two countries’ robust IP framework and global trade connections to facilitate easier patent protection for businesses.

If you have any inquiries regarding intellectual property matters in Southeast Asia, please don’t hesitate to contact us at [email protected].

Patthariya Sirinunthaphapakorn

Senior Associate

[email protected]

+6621172272