Outsourcing of Biotechnology Patent Examination-cum-Training of Patent Examiners

July 2007 -- MyIPO in cooperation with BiotechCorp have approached the Australian Patent Office (“IP Australia”) to explore the possibility of outsourcing the examination of backlog files. 

IP Australia have agreed to provide assistance by providing on-the-job training for two months to Malaysian patent examiners who will examine actual backlog files while under the supervision of an Australian patent examiner.

This programme is intended to increase the efficiency of Malaysian examiners thus facilitating the clearing of the backlog. The first batch of two examiners commenced their training on 2nd July 2007 (for more info, click here) while the second batch is expected to leave for Australia in October 2007.