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ARTICLE · 11 FEBRUARY 2026

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New PCT pilot programme with EPO – what Australian patent applicants need to know

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Australian patent applicants will soon have access to a new international filing option, with IP Australia & the EPO launching a two-year PCT pilot programme.

AustraliaIntellectual Property
Catherine Winbanks
Catherine Winbanks
Abrey Yeo
Abrey Yeo
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From 1 March 2026, Australian patent applicants will have access to a significant new international filing option, with IP Australia and the European Patent Office (EPO) launching a two-year PCT pilot programme.

Under this pilot, applicants filing international (PCT) applications from Australia will be able to select the EPO as their International Searching Authority (ISA) and International Preliminary Examining Authority (IPEA). This option has not previously been available to Australian filers.

Currently, Australian applicants filing PCT applications may nominate IP Australia or the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) as ISA and IPEA. The pilot therefore represents an important development, particularly for applicants with European commercial objectives.

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