Singapore cooperation with Japan targets AI in patent examination
New cooperation between IPOS and JPO aims to strengthen trusted, high-quality patent examination as AI reshapes IP work.
The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore and the Japan Patent Office have announced a new cooperation initiative on the use of AI in patent substantive examination, as patent offices adapt to rapid technological change.
The initiative was announced after a bilateral meeting in Singapore between IPOS Chief Executive Tan Kong Hwee and JPO Commissioner Yasuyuki Kasai. It builds on a Memorandum of Cooperation signed in Tokyo last November.
Under the initiative, IPOS and JPO will launch a bilateral patent examiner exchange programme and hold regular technical exchanges on the use of AI in patent examination. The two offices said the cooperation is intended to strengthen capabilities, share best practices and develop robust processes for high-quality and trusted patent examination.
Tan said AI is reshaping innovation and work processes, making it necessary for IP offices to evolve while maintaining examination quality and trust. Kasai said the cooperation would bring together the experience and expertise of both offices and support innovation in both countries.
The cooperation will also cover patent search and examination quality management, benchmarking of examination practices, IT infrastructure development, operational management and IP policy exchanges. Both offices will also coordinate initiatives to support enterprises, including SMEs, and strengthen trade and IP flows between Singapore and Japan.
IPOS and JPO said the partnership reflects their shared commitment to addressing emerging challenges in the intellectual property landscape and keeping innovation ecosystems trusted, efficient and future-ready.
Why does it matter?
Patent offices are increasingly facing pressure to handle more complex applications while maintaining examination quality, consistency and trust. Cooperation between Singapore and Japan on AI-assisted examination shows how intellectual property authorities are beginning to adapt their own administrative systems to AI, not only to regulate AI-related inventions.
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