The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) is offering a pilot programme to accelerate grants of patent applications in all technology fields, which would make it the application-to-grant process in the world.

The programme will benefit technologies with a social and healthcare impact, as well as emerging technologies with short product lifecycles. It will allow patent applications to be granted in about six months compared to the usual two years or more.

In related news, IPOS chief executive Daren Tang has been appointed as the next director-general of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). He succeeds Francis Gurry on Oct. 1.

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