Singapore Patent Practice Update: IPOS Extends EOT Pilot and Resumes SG Patents Fast Track 02 Oct 2026 IPOS has recently introduced two updates that provide applicants with greater flexibility in managing the timing of patent prosecution in Singapore. Published on 12 August 2026, the updates extend the existing Extension of Time (EOT) pilot for search and/or examination requests and resume the SG Patents Fast programme from 1 September 2026. Although the two measures operate in different directions, they reflect a common theme: giving applicants more flexibility to decide when to move forward with prosecution, depending on their commercial and portfolio needs. Extension of the EOT Pilot In August 2024, the IPOS launched a pilot initiative to allow eligible applicants to extend the period prescribed for filing requests for search and/or examination reports (“S&E requests”) by 18 months, at no cost. Under Patents Circular No. 4/2026, IPOS will be extending the pilot for 1 year following positive feedback from stakeholders. With the extension, applicants whose period prescribed for filing S&E requests expires between 1 September 2024 and 31 August 2027 (both dates inclusive) are eligible for this pilot initiative. The extension can be particularly useful for applicants managing international patent portfolios. In many cases, applicants may prefer to wait for the examination results of corresponding applications in jurisdictions such as the US or Europe before deciding how to proceed in Singapore. The additional time may also allow applicants to assess the commercial importance of the invention, the relevant market and whether further prosecution expenditure is justified. More importantly, the additional time should not simply be regarded as a reason to delay prosecution. It can instead be used strategically to monitor foreign prosecution, consider potential amendments and determine the claim scope that should ultimately be pursued in Singapore. Therefore, the extended EOT pilot provides applicants with greater room to align Singapore prosecution with their wider patent and business strategy. Resumption of SG Patents Fast From 1 September 2026, the IPOS will resume the acceptance of new requests under SG Patents Fast acceleration programmes. Applicants may apply for acceleration in relation to requests for patents search and examination reports and requests for patent examination report filed on or after 1 September 2026. The programme provides an accelerated route for eligible patent applications, including acceleration of requests for search and examination, examination, and responses to examination objections filed on or after that date. SG Patents Fast provides two acceleration options: SG Patents Fast 4, targeting a first office action within four months, and SG Patents Fast 8, targeting a first office action within eight months of a successful acceleration request. The resumption will be welcomed by applicants who require an earlier examination outcome. For commercially important technologies, an accelerated examination may be useful where the applicant is considering licensing, investment, commercialisation or other business opportunities that would benefit from greater certainty around the Singapore patent position. The acceleration programme does not change the substantive requirements for obtaining a patent. A faster examination process may result in earlier examination objections, and applicants should still consider issues such as novelty, inventive step, clarity, support and added matter as part of their prosecution strategy. Conclusion: A More Flexible Approach to Patent Prosecution Taken together, these two updates provide applicants with greater flexibility over the pace of Singapore patent prosecution. For an application where the commercial value or international prosecution position is still developing, the extended EOT pilot may provide useful additional time before committing to search and/or examination. For an application that is commercially important and where an early examination outcome is desirable, SG Patents Fast provides an opportunity to accelerate the process. The practical message is therefore not simply to delay or accelerate prosecution, but to choose the appropriate pace for each patent application. In summary, with international patent portfolios becoming increasingly complex, the ability to coordinate Singapore prosecution with foreign examination results, commercial priorities and broader IP strategy can be valuable. These latest IPOS updates give applicants more flexibility to do that.