Joint Communiqué On Entry Into Second Phase In EPO-CNIPA Patent Cooperation Treaty Pilot Project

From 1 December 2024, users of the EPO-CNIPA Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) pilot project will pay international search fee directly at the CNIPA in Renminbi.

The European Patent Office (EPO) and the CNIPA have jointly announced the next phase in their joint PCT pilot project. This new phase offers greater convenience to Chinese applicants designating the EPO as their International Search Authority (ISA): Starting from December 1, 2024, applicants will be able to pay their search fees through the CNIPA to the EPO in Renminbi.

The first phase of this pilot project began on 1 December, 2020. The second phase simplifies the process for Chinese nationals and residents by allowing fee payments in local currency, making it easier to access high-quality international searches and written opinions from the EPO.