November [General] Newsletter

Japan-Bahrain Patent Prosecution Highway

On September 22, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of the Kingdom of Bahrain regarding the bilateral Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH). As a result, the PPH between Japan and the Kingdom of Bahrain will commence on January 1, 2026.

The launch of the PPH is expected to speed up the process for Japanese companies to obtain patents in the Kingdom of Bahrain, further accelerating business expansion for Japanese companies in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

An example of a method for utilizing the PPH is to file a PCT application based on a Japanese patent, including the Kingdom of Bahrain as a designated country, and then apply for PPH when the PCT application is transferred to the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Bilateral Meeting between the Japan Patent Office and the European Patent Office

On Monday, September 29, 2025, a bilateral meeting was held between Commissioner Kawanishi and Deputy Patent Engineer Yasuda of the Japan Patent Office (JPO) and President Antonio Campinos of the European Patent Office (EPO).

At the bilateral meeting, the JPO and EPO shared their views on the latest trends in the use of IT and AI, as well as future cooperation between the two offices in various forums. It was also agreed to extend the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) between the JPO and EPO, which was concluded in 2019, for two years until 2027. The MoC includes cooperation between the JPO and EPO on the sharing of patent information related to the use of IT and AI.

Therefore, in the future, it is expected that cooperation between the JPO and the EPO on matters related to the use of IT and AI will progress, leading to greater sharing of patent information, which will improve the efficiency of patent examinations involving the use of IT and AI. As a result, it is expected that the development of technologies that utilize IT and AI will be further promoted in Japan and Europe.

Bilateral meetings between the Japan Patent Office and the World Intellectual Property Organization

On October 3, 2025, a bilateral meeting was held between Commissioner Kawanishi and Deputy Patent Engineer Yasuda of the Japan Patent Office (JPO) and Director General Darren Tang of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). At the bilateral meeting, the two sides shared recognition of future cooperation between the JPO and WIPO to further promote WIPO GREEN initiatives.

Furthermore, on October 4, 2025, Director General Tan exchanged views with Masashi Yamamoto, Executive Managing Director of Daikin Industries, Ltd., a WIPO GREEN Japan Ambassador, in the presence of Commissioner Kasai, regarding the future direction of collaboration and cooperation between Japanese industry and WIPO within WIPO GREEN.

It is expected that WIPO GREEN efforts will be promoted in Japan in the future, which will in turn promote the international expansion of newly developed environmental technologies (green technologies) in Japan to other countries, as well as the development and application of environmental technologies within Japan.

Received the "EXPO2025 JPO-WIPO Award"

In conjunction with the Osaka-Kansai Expo, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) held the "EXPO2025 JPO-WIPO AWARD." The "EXPO2025 JPO-WIPO AWARD" recognized companies that embody the ideal approach to intellectual property utilization that the JPO and WIPO are working together to achieve, namely, creating innovations to solve social issues, including the realization of the SDGs, and designing a better future society. Specifically, the "EXPO2025 JPO-WIPO AWARD" recognized companies that are designing a better future society in the fields of climate change, women's participation, and youth participation. The award recipients are shown in the table below.

In the future, SPACECOOL Co., Ltd. and Takenaka Corporation will further promote research and development in the climate change sector, and it is expected that the number of applications in this field will increase.

Furthermore, Naris Cosmetics Co., Ltd. and Phytochemical Products Co., Ltd. have created a favorable research environment for female researchers, such as by creating an environment in which female researchers can continue their research even after marriage and childbirth. Therefore, it is expected that the efficiency of research and development at these companies will be improved and the number of patent applications will increase due to the presence of female researchers.

Furthermore, Kajima Corporation has created an environment that encourages young researchers to be more motivated to do their research, such as by awarding young researchers who make sincere efforts to improve and refine their work. As a result, it is believed that the increased motivation of young researchers at Kajima Corporation will lead to improved efficiency in research and development and an increase in the number of applications.

Newsletter translated into English

Patent Prosecution Highway between Japan and the Kingdom of Bahrain

On September 22, the Japan Patent Office signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of the Kingdom of Bahrain concerning a Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) between the two countries. As a result, the PPH between Japan and the Kingdom of Bahrain will commence on January 1, 2026.

With the commencement of the mentioned PPH, it is expected that the acquisition of patents by Japanese companies in the Kingdom of Bahrain will be accelerated, and the business expansion of Japanese companies within the Kingdom of Bahrain will further advance.

An example of how to utilize the mentioned PPH is that one can file a PCT application based on a Japanese patent, designing the Kingdom of Bahrain as one of the designated countries, and then apply for the PPH when the PCT application enters the national phase in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Bilateral Meeting between the Japan Patent Office and the European Patent Office

On Monday, September 29, 2025, a bilateral meeting was held between Commissioner Kawanishi and Deputy Commissioner Yasuda of the Japan Patent Office (JPO) and President António Campinos of the European Patent Office (EPO).

At this bilateral meeting, the JPO and EPO shared their latest developments in the utilization of IT and AI, as well as their mutual understanding toward future cooperation between the two offices in various forums. In addition, it was agreed that the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) that has been in place between the JPO and EPO since 2019 will be extended by two years, until 2027. utilization.

Accordingly, it is expected that further cooperation between the JPO and EPO regarding matters related to IT and AI utilization will lead to enhanced sharing of patent information, thereby improving the efficiency of patent examinations related to those fields. As a result, it is anticipated that the development of technologies utilizing IT and AI in Japan and Europe will be further promoted.

Bilateral Meeting between the Japan Patent Office and the World Intellectual Property Organization

On October 3, 2025, a bilateral meeting was held between Commissioner Kawanishi and Deputy Commissioner Yasuda of the Japan Patent Office (JPO) and Director General Daren Tang of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). During the meeting, the JPO and WIPO shared a mutual understanding regarding future cooperation aimed at further promoting the WIPO GREEN initiative.

Furthermore, on October 4, 2025, in the presence of Commissioner Kawanishi, an exchange of opinions concerning the future direction of collaboration and cooperation in WIPO GREEN between the Japanese industrial sector and WIPO was held between Director General Tang and the Japan Ambassador of WIPO GREEN, Mr. Masafumi Yamamoto, Senior Associate Officer at Daikin Industries, Ltd.

It is expected that efforts related to the WIPO GREEN initiative in Japan will be further advanced. As a result, promotion of the international deployment of environmental technologies (green technologies) newly developed in Japan and progress in the domestic development and application of environmental technologies is anticipated.

“EXPO 2025 JPO-WIPO AWARD”

In conjunction with the Osaka-Kansai EXPO, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) jointly gave out the “EXPO 2025 JPO-WIPO AWARD”. realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and designing a better future society. Specifically, the “EXPO 2025 JPO-WIPO AWARD” targeted companies that design a better future society in the fields of climate change, women's participation, and youth participation. The recipients are presented in the table below:

Going forward, research and development related to climate change are expected to be further advanced by SPACECOOL INC. and TAKENAKA CORPORATION, leading to an increase in the number of patent applications in this field.

In addition, Naris Cosmetics Co., Ltd. and Phytochem Products Inc. have established favorable research environments for female researchers, such as creating systems that enable them to continue research after marriage and childbirth. examined, at these companies, research and development efficiency by female researchers is expected to improve further, resulting in an increase in the number of patent applications.

Furthermore, KAJIMA CORPORATION has developed an environment that enhances the research motivation of young researchers, for example by recognizing and awarding young researchers who dedicate themselves sincerely to improvement and innovation in their work. As a result, it is expected that the motivation of young researchers at KAJIMA CORPORATION will continue to increase, leading to greater research and development efficiency and a rise in the number of patent applications.