To support patent applicants, including startups and female inventors, and to expedite patent grants for creations such as green technologies and outstanding designs, TIPO provides several accelerated examination programs. These initiatives are designed to help creators shorten examination timeframes and facilitate the strategic development of global patent portfolios. Applicants from all sectors are welcome to explore and make full use of these resources.

1. Accelerated Examination Program (AEP)

(1) The AEP is available under four specific grounds:

I. Ground 1: The corresponding foreign application has been substantively examined and granted by a foreign patent office.

II. Ground 2: The corresponding foreign application has received an office action and a search report from the USPTO, JPO, or EPO, but has not yet been granted.

III. Ground 3: The application is needed for commercial implementation.

IV. Ground 4: The invention relates to green technology, including: (i) Technologies for energy saving, new energy, or new energy 3 vehicles; and (ii) Invention patent applications involving carbon reduction or resource-saving technologies.

(2) Once all required documents are filed, TIPO will issue the notice of examination results within six to nine months, depending on the specific ground. However, the actual duration may vary based on the technical field of the patent application.

2. Positive Patent Examination Pilot Program for Startup Companies

(1) On January 5, 2021, TIPO launched this program to support startup companies in accelerating patent portfolio development. The initiative has since won broad acclaim from applicants and patent agents alike, prompting the pilot period to be extended for an additional year, starting January 1, 2026.

(2) Once an application is deemed eligible, TIPO will provide interview materials, including a search report and preliminary examination opinions, within one month, and conduct a proactive interview within the same timeframe. During the interview, examiners will disclose their preliminary views and offer constructive suggestions for amendment. Following the interview, applicants have one month to decide whether to submit a response or amendments. If submitted, TIPO will issue the notice of examination results within one month. Should no grounds for rejection remain, this notice will serve as the official grant decision. Through this program, startups can significantly shorten their waiting time and enhance the overall value of their patents.

3. Industry Collaborative Patent Interview Pilot Program

(1) Launched in 2023, this program aims to enhance the examination efficiency and quality of patent applications involving cutting-edge technologies while helping applicants expedite patent acquisition. Following the expiration of its initial term on January 2, 2025, TIPO assessed its examination capacity to revise the program and extend the pilot through December 31, 2026.

(2) Eligibility for the program is available to applicants filing invention patent applications in cutting-edge sectors, as determined by the authority.

4. Pilot Program for Accelerated Examination of Invention Patent Applications Filed by Female Applicants

(1) To encourage women's participation in innovation, TIPO specifically introduced this one-year pilot program, effective July 1, 2025. During the trial period, a total quota of 50 applications is available. For the first two months, TIPO accepted up to five applications monthly; from the third month onward, the limit will be adjusted to four applications per month. Furthermore, each female applicant is limited to a maximum of five applications throughout the pilot period.

(2) The eligibility criteria for this program are as follows:

I. The applicants for the invention patent must be natural persons and include a female; if the female applicant is the inventor or one of the inventors, she may apply for this program.

II. Applications must be submitted via TIPO’s electronic filing system.

III. Domestic female applicants must provide their ID in the electronic application; foreign applicants must submit relevant documents proving their female identity.

IV. The applicants must submit their requests after receiving TIPO’s notice that substantive examination will commence, but before receiving the first office action.

(3) For invention patent applications that meet the requirements of this program, TIPO examiners will conduct accelerated examination and issue either an office action or a patent grant notice within six months from the date of the accelerated examination request.

5. Accelerated Examination Pilot Program for Design Patents

(1) To provide more diverse and flexible examination options for design patent applications, the program’s initial term ran from September 1, 2023, to December 31, 2024. Following a thorough evaluation of its effectiveness, TIPO has extended this program through December 31, 2026.

(2) The program details are as follows:

I. Application timing: Design patent applications may be submitted under this program after receiving TIPO’s notice that examination will commence, but before receiving the first office action.

II. Application method: Applicants must submit their requests electronically in accordance with TIPO regulations and attach the relevant supporting documents. No application fees are required for this pilot program.

III. Grounds for application:

(i) Ground 1: Commercial exploitation by a third party

(ii) Ground 2: The design has received a recognized domestic or international design award, or

(iii) Ground 3: Design patent applications filed by startup

(3) Eligible startups under this program are companies registered and established under Taiwan’s Company Act or the laws of a foreign country that have been in existence for less than eight years. The company’s age is calculated from the date of establishment to the filing date of the design patent application; companies less than eight years old are eligible. If priority is claimed, the calculation period shall be based on the earliest priority date.

(4) For applicants that are foreign companies, documents proving the company’s establishment date must be submitted along with a Chinese translation. If the submitted document is not an original, a declaration of authenticity must also be provided.

6. Accelerated Examination Program for Reexamination (AEPRe)

(1) The AEPRe program targets reexamination cases in which the initial examination rejects some claims while leaving others unchallenged. It encourages applicants, during reexamination, to proactively amend the patent claims in accordance with the initial examination’s approval scope. If applicants choose to adopt the AEPRe program as part of their application strategy, their reexamination cases can benefit from accelerated examination under this program.

(2) In 2025, TIPO received a total of 44 AEPRe applications, 42 of which have already concluded. The average duration from filing a request to receiving the examination results was 19.6 days, compared with 10 to 13 months for standard re-examinations. This streamlined approach has proven tremendously beneficial, enabling applicants to secure their patent rights in a significantly shorter timeframe.