Programme for accelerated prosecution of European patent applications (“PACE”) no longer available for search as from February 1st, 2026.
- As from February 1st, 2026, the PACE programme is restricted to the examination phase. It will therefore no longer be possible to request the PACE programme for the search phase.
According to the EPO, filing a PACE request for the search phase is no longer necessary, since the search reports are issued rapidly by the EPO for all patent applications. Indeed, the mean time to issue the extended/partial European search report in 2024 was five and a half months.
- It is still possible to request accelerated examination by filing a PACE request for the examination phase.
When accelerated examination is requested, the EPO makes every effort to:
– issue the next office action within three months of the examining division’s receipt of the application, the applicant’s response under Rule 70a or 161(1) EPC or the request for accelerated examination (whichever is latest); and
– produce subsequent examination communications within three months of receipt of the applicant’s reply.
An application will be removed from the PACE programme for any of the following reasons:
– the PACE request has been withdrawn
– the applicant has requested an extension of time limits
– the application has been refused
– the application has been withdrawn
– the application is deemed to be withdrawn.
This article is for information purposes only and does not constitute a legal advice.