Switzerland is a leader of innovation in Europe. Here, you will find a guide about the filing procedures, routes and fees for Patent Filing in Switzerland.
Patent Filing in Switzerland – The Options
Filing a patent in Switzerland? You may use the following routes:
1. Direct Filing with the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (IPI)
- With this option, you can file a patent application with the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (IPI).
- Subject to the grant, the patent shall be valid only in Switzerland.
2. International Filing via Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
- With this option, you can file a single international application simultaneously in many countries.
- PCT has 152 Contracting States and is administered by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).
- However, the granting of a patent in Switzerland remains under the control of the IPI, i.e. “national phase”.
3. International Filing via Paris Convention
- This option is similar to PCT. Hence, the Paris Convention allows simultaneous multi-country filing.
- Paris Convention has 177 Contracting States and is also administered by WIPO.
- However, the granting of a patent in Switzerland remains under the control of the IPI.
- The Paris convention offers a relatively faster route as compared to the PCT and it is more economical.
4. Filing in EU via European Patent Convention (EPC)
- The EPC route allows you to file a patent application with the European Patent Office (EPO).
- EPC has 38 contracting states.
- The granting of a patent in Switzerland remains under the control of the IPI.
5. Filing via Euro-PCT
- This is an extension to PCT only, with the exception that the procedure focuses on the elements specific to the PCT procedure before the EPO.
- The provisions of the PCT and its Regulations (“the PCT Rules”) apply, supplemented by the provisions of the EPC.
- In case of conflict between the provisions of the EPC and the PCT, the PCT prevails.
- The granting of a patent in Switzerland remains under the control of the IPI, i.e “national phase”.
Filing Requirements (IPI): Overview
The complete set of documents must include the following:
- A request for the grant of a patent valid in Switzerland.
- The inventor’s details (Full name and address)
- Description
- Claim or claims to the invention
- Abstract
- Drawings (if any)
- You need to provide a translation of the technical documentation into a Swiss official language (German, French or Italian). Unless you submit the documents in English.
In order to claim priority for international applications, you must submit a priority declaration within the priority period.
Filing Options (IPI)
You can file your application offline with the IPI or use the e-filing system.
Offline Filing
You can post your application at the following address:
IPI Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property,
Stauffacherstrasse 59G, 3014 Bern,
Switzerland
E-filing
You can file your application via email at the following address: patent.admin @ ekomm.ipi .ch
Patent Fees: Overview
| Action | Fee |
| Application Fee | CHF 200 |
| Claims fee for each additional claim (beyond 11 claims) | CHF 50 |
| Examination fee | CHF 500 |
| Fee for accelerated examination | CHF200 |
| National phase entry (PCT) | CHF 1330 |
To know more, visit Patent Fees.