Taiwan and Israel sign intellectual property accords to accelerate patent reviews

Taiwan and Israel have signed two agreements aimed at deepening cooperation on intellectual property protection and expediting patent examinations, as both economies seek to strengthen technological collaboration amid shifting global supply-chain dynamics.

The memorandums of understanding were concluded on Monday during a bilateral economic and technology dialogue held via videoconference. The accords were signed by Abby Lee, Taiwan’s representative to Israel, and Maya Yaron, head of the Israeli Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei.

Streamlining Patent Reviews

One of the agreements establishes a patent prosecution highway (PPH) mechanism between the two economies. Under the scheme, an applicant whose patent has been approved in one jurisdiction can request accelerated examination for the corresponding application in the other, the Taiwan Intellectual Property Office (TIPO) said.

The programme is scheduled to come into effect on January 2 and makes Israel the eighth partner in Taiwan’s PPH network, following arrangements with the United States, Japan, Spain, South Korea, Poland, Canada and France. 

Officials say the process is designed to reduce duplication of work and shorten the time required for cross-border patent approvals.

A second memorandum focuses on broader intellectual property cooperation, including information exchanges, joint professional activities and efforts to increase public awareness of IP protection.

Complementary Strengths in Technology

Speaking at the event, Deputy Economics Minister Cynthia Kiang said the agreements come at a time when governments are reassessing supply-chain security in response to geopolitical and economic uncertainty.

She noted that Israel’s concentration of start-ups and its appeal as a research and development base complement Taiwan’s strengths in advanced manufacturing. Closer cooperation, she suggested, could enhance resilience in sectors such as semiconductors, cybersecurity and emerging technologies.

Bilateral trade between Taiwan and Israel reached US$2.72 billion between January and October this year, an increase of 38 per cent compared with the same period in 2024, according to data from Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs. 

Israel is currently Taiwan’s 28th-largest trading partner, though officials on both sides have signalled interest in expanding economic engagement.

The new MOUs signal a modest but notable step in deepening Taiwan–Israel cooperation, particularly in areas where intellectual property, innovation and supply-chain strategy intersect.