1. Receiving and Handling of PCT International Applications

In 2002, the SIPO received 951 international applications, 705 less than the previous year. Among those received, 849 used Chinese as the working language and 102 used English as the working language.

Except for those applications withdrawn on the applicants' initiative and those deemed as withdrawn, 180 were related to mechanics, 335 to electronics, 174 to applied chemistry, thirty to basic chemistry, 232 to physics and other technical fields. Of all the PCT international applications, 93% were service inventions, an indication of a rapid increase in the number of filings of such applications.

2. PCT International Searching

In 2002, as an International Searching Authority under the PCT, the SIPO established searching reports for 1001 international applications, and communicated them respectively to the International Bureau of the WIPO and to the applicants according to the prescribed time limits of the PCT. At the same time, six notices announcing that international searching reports were not to be prepared had been sent. In the same year, the SIPO conducted international searches for twenty-nine international applications, which were transferred from the International Bureau.

3. PCT International Preliminary Examination

In the process of conducting international preliminary examinations, the SIPO received 697 requests for international preliminary examination. A total of 738 preliminary examination reports were made and were communicated to the International Bureau and to the applicants.

4. PCT International Applications Entering the Designated and Elected Office

By December 31,2002, the SIPO received 22, 590 international applications designating China and entering into China's national phase, five of which were for utility models and the remainder were for patents for inventions.

According to statistics cited in the pamphlet published by the WIPO, 114,048 international applications were received by the WIPO's International Bureau in 2002, 9.72% up over the previous year. PCT international applications originating in various countries designated China in 2002, and 100,686 international applications were published, accounting for 88.28% of the total number of international applications.