Türkiye becomes first country to participate in the Belt and Road Initiative pilot project to accelerate patent examination

The Belt and Road Accelerated Patent Examination Pilot Program aims to provide a fast-track examination channel in China for patent applications from Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) countries. Led by the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), the program will be implemented from January 20, 2025 to January 19, 2027.

Under the project, qualified applicants from participating countries can submit accelerated examination requests through CNIPA, shortening the patent examination time. The project was first announced at the third Belt and Road High-Level Conference on Intellectual Property in September 2024 as part of a broader effort to strengthen intellectual property cooperation among Belt and Road countries.

CNIPA said it plans to expand the initiative by including patent agencies in more Belt and Road countries to further strengthen intellectual property cooperation to support economic and technological development.