To further support innovation in the Macao Special Administrative Region (Macao SAR) and facilitate more efficient intellectual property protection in the Chinese Mainland, the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) has, effective July 1, 2026, converted the pilot program for prioritized examination of invention patent applications filed by Macao SAR applicants in the Chinese Mainland into a permanent program.

The pilot program was launched on July 1, 2023. Under the program, eligible invention patent applications filed by Macao SAR applicants may request prioritized examination through the Guangzhou Representative Office and Shenzhen Representative Office of the CNIPA Patent Office.

During the three-year pilot period, nearly 100 invention patent applications filed by Macao SAR applicants entered the prioritized examination channel through the program. The initiative has significantly shortened examination timelines and provided effective support for innovators in the Macao SAR to accelerate their patent protection and deployment in the Chinese Mainland.

Following a comprehensive evaluation, CNIPA concluded that the pilot program had achieved its intended objectives and delivered positive results. Accordingly, the program has been implemented on a permanent basis since July 1, 2026, with a view to further supporting innovation in the Macao SAR and contributing to the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.