This programme, which has recently undergone changes, is set to be revised by the EPO.
Since 1 February 2026, the PACE programme is limited to the examination phase and no longer applies to the search phase. This change is due to improvements in the Office’s processing times, with the European search report now being issued on average within approximately 5.5 months from the filing date or from the expiry of the time limit provided for in Rule 161(2) EPC.
PACE applications remain free of charge and must be filed using a dedicated form; in principle, this allows applicants to receive examination notifications within approximately three months.
This revision aims to focus efforts on speeding up the examination phase, which is considered the stage where rapid processing is most critical for applicants.
Our teams are on hand to help you assess whether to file such a request!
More information here : https://www.epo.org/fr/legal/official-journal/2025/12/a69
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