EPO and IP Australia PCT pilot programme enters into force starting 1 March 2026

As of 1 March 2026, Australian applicants are able to designate the EPO as their International Searching Authority (ISA) and International Preliminary Examining Authority (IPEA) under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), marking the start of a two-year pilot programme.  

​The programme is open to applicants filing their international applications either with IP Australia or with the International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization as Receiving Office.  

Benefits for applicants

By choosing the EPO as their ISA, Australian applicants can benefit from an accelerated route to high-quality European patent protection. With an international search report from the EPO, these applicants can bypass the supplementary search when entering the European regional phase, saving time and cost. They will also receive a 75% reduction in European regional phase examination fees if they requested international preliminary examination under PCT Chapter II with the EPO.

The EPO’s international search report provides a solid basis for taking informed decisions on whether to enter the European phase and national phases before other offices. Once granted, a European patent can be validated in all 39 EPO member states and in seven additional extension or validation states. As an alternative or in addition to validating the European patent in individual countries, the patent proprietor can request unitary effect, resulting in a Unitary Patent that provides uniform patent protection in 18 EU Member States.