Joint Announcement by the China National Intellectual Property Administration and the European Patent Office on the Extension of the PCT International Searching Authority Pilot Project

The PCT International Searching Authority pilot project between the China National Intellectual Property Administration and the European Patent Office is extended until 30 November 2031. Chinese applicants participating in the project can continue to choose the European Patent Office as their International Searching Authority.

The China National Intellectual Property Administration and the European Patent Office jointly announce the extension until 30 November 2031 of the PCT pilot project that allows Chinese applicants to designate the European Patent Office as an International Searching Authority.

The decision to extend the project was made jointly by the heads of the two offices during their meeting held on 22 September 2025 in Porto.

Since the pilot project was launched in December 2020, more than 770 enterprises, universities, and research institutions have chosen the EPO as their ISA. These applicants, who are citizens or residents of the People's Republic of China, efficiently obtained search reports and written opinions to accelerate the process of obtaining patent protection in Europe.

Key advantages for citizens and residents of the People's Republic of China designating the EPO as their ISA include: accelerating the European patent grant procedure, and saving time and costs by eliminating the need for a supplementary search or translation. Furthermore, if an international preliminary examination request under PCT Chapter II is submitted to the EPO, the examination fee for the European phase will be reduced by 75%. The pilot project will maintain an annual application cap of 3,000 requests to ensure more entities can benefit from it. Application documents must be submitted in English.

Shen Changyu, Commissioner of the CNIPA, stated: "As one of the important cooperation initiatives between our two offices, the pilot project has been widely praised by Chinese users since its inception. More than 770 innovative entities have benefited from it. We welcome the extension of the pilot project, which will allow participating Chinese users to continue selecting the EPO as their PCT ISA, making it more convenient to apply for intellectual property rights and obtain patent protection in Europe."

António Campinos, President of the EPO, said: "Our pilot project has proven its value in practice. By simplifying procedures and reducing costs, it delivers tangible results for innovators and serves as a model for international strategic cooperation. Extending the project until 2031 will enable more Chinese innovators to navigate the European intellectual property landscape with clarity and confidence. This extension not only demonstrates the cooperative commitment between the EPO and the CNIPA but also directly reflects our shared mission: to promote innovation, remove barriers to cooperation, and deepen collaboration between regions."