Its pilot programme, SG Patent Fast Track, due to begin on 4 May and end on 29 April 2022, will issue technology patents within six months. Typically, patents take two years.
Sharmaine Wu, director of patents, designs & plant varieties of IPOS, said: ‘In these unprecedented times, IP offices need to step up efforts to support solutions that deal with the global challenges.’
Examples of the technology it will support includes technology with healthcare impacts such as tracing apps and ventilators, social impact tech relating to environmental matters and emerging tech with a short product lifecycle such as FinTech or AI.