For innovators and Patent Holders seeking faster and higher-quality Patent prosecution, the Collaborative Search & Examination (CS&E) program offers a promising opportunity. A first in ASEAN, the IP Offices of Singapore and Indonesia have committed to accelerating the search and examination processes for the applicants who file Patents in both countries. The program was launched on January 2, 2025, for an initial period of two years. It is unclear whether this will be extended for now.
What Is CS&E?
CS&E is an international pilot initiative where participating Patent offices, such as those in Singapore (Intellectual Property Office of Singapore) and Indonesia (Directorate General of Intellectual Property), conduct joint searches and examinations on the same PCT (Patent Cooperation Treaty) application.
The result is a unified search and examination report that reflects insights from multiple jurisdictions, saving time, avoiding duplication, and improving quality.
Indonesia’s Role in CS&E
According to IPOS, Indonesia’s DGIP and IPOS share a combined quota for CS&E applications:
- Cap per year: 10 (shared by DGIP and IPOS)
- Cap per month: 1 (rollover allowed, up to max 2)
- Cap per applicant: 1 per month
This means that if you are entering the Indonesian national phase via PCT, and your application qualifies for CS&E, the DGIP may collaborate with IPOS to produce a joint search report, potentially accelerating your prosecution process.
Eligibility
Applicants who wish to take advantage of this program must meet the following criteria:
- Appointment of local representative/address (i.e. registered IP agent/attorney).
- The application should contain 20 or fewer claims, including three or fewer independent claims.
- Adherence to the CS&E volume limit.
Key Features
- Complimentary CS&E Request until 1 January 2027, but the fees for filing, search and examination should still be paid.
- Enhanced Prior Art Search and Examination Results.
How Can Applicants Benefit from CS&E in Indonesia or Singapore?
- Accelerated First Office Action within 10 months.
- Prioritised Examination.
- Deferred Translation and Official Costs for Filing and/or Search and Examination.
You may request CS&E through IPOS or DGIP if:
- Your PCT application designates Indonesia and Singapore.
- You are within the quota (as above).
- You wish to leverage a unified search/exam result for faster decisions.
Want to explore CS&E or other Patent acceleration strategies in Indonesia?
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Source: IPOS – Collaborative Search and Examination Programme Factsheet
