Patent Prosecution Highway with China Extended until 2031

The cooperation on accelerated patent examination between China and Austria is on to the next round.

Good news for Austrian companies operating in China: The agreement on accelerated patent examination between Austria and China will be extended for another five years. This ensures faster processing times and therefore better opportunities for Austrian innovations in the world's largest trading nation.

The Austrian Patent Office and the Chinese Intellectual Property Office CNIPA have maintained an effective partnership for many years. Back in 2013, the two offices launched a pilot project – a bilateral agreement on accelerated patent examination via the “Patent Prosecution Highway” (PPH). This agreement has proven successful and has now been extended for another five years – until 2031.

Prioritized examination powered by PPH

In practice, this allows patent applicants filing a patent in one of the two countries to apply for prioritized examination in the other, if the submitted claims have been deemed patentable by the first office. With the cooperation of experts from both offices, the examination moves faster and more efficiently. This puts Austrian companies at a significant advantage in the Chinese market: Particularly in the high-tech sector, Austrian innovations are in demand in China – for example in mechanical engineering, medical technology, and sustainable urban development. Innovations from China are also gaining importance worldwide: In 2025, China was listed in the UN’s top 10 most innovative countries for the first time.

The extension of this agreement is a clear sign of the good cooperation between Austria and China on intellectual property matters. This relationship is also strengthened through regular meetings: In July 2025, a CNIPA delegation visited the Austrian Patent Office in Vienna, followed by a visit from a regional delegation from Hubei Province in November.