EPO-CNIPA Launch New PPH Pilot
On August 1, 2026, the European Patent Office (EPO) and the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) launched a new bilateral Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) pilot programme.
This initiative will enable applicants to leverage examination results obtained from one office to accelerate the processing of corresponding patent applications before the other. The programme aims to reduce duplication of work, improve procedural efficiency, and speed up patent examination.
This new collaboration further strengthens the EPO’s international network of PPH agreements with intellectual property offices around the world. This is a particularly valuable development for companies and innovators pursuing patent protection strategies in both Europe and China, offering a more streamlined and efficient route to securing intellectual property rights in two of the world’s most important markets.
