08/01/2026
After a period of more than 10 years, the EPO is making changes to the PACE programme for accelerating European patent applications. The changes will come into force from 1st February 2026.
From 1st February 2026, the option to request accelerated search will be withdrawn, and it will only be possible to request accelerated examination. Consequently, the EPO Form 1005, which previously had two check boxes for (1) accelerated examination and (2) accelerated search, will now only have the single check box. Requests for acceleration remain unpublished and remain excluded from file inspection.
Requesting acceleration will now only be possible once the examination stage of the application process has begun – in other words, after the reply to the extended European Search Report has been filed in reply to the Rule 69 or Rule 70 communications (see Rule 10 EPC) – or for PCT EP applications where the EPO acted as the International Searching Authority (ISA), straight away on regional phase entry.
The EPO justify the change on the basis that the “mean time” to issue the extended European Search Report in 2024 was only five and a half months, meaning that accelerated search is no longer seen as a necessary option for the applicant.
More detail can be found in the practice note which appears in the December 2025 edition of the EPO Official Journal available here.
The PACE programme remains a highly effective way of accelerating applications at the European Patent Office. As a practical matter, the proceedings before the EPO may be further accelerated by filing an EPO Form 1012 relating to an “enquiry as to the processing of the file”, which may bring the application to the Examiner’s attention. Additionally, the Applicant may also wish to consider arranging a call with the Examiner to speed up prosecution.
Apart from the changes discussed above, the procedures for accelerating applications at the EPO remain the same as published in the earlier practice notes (see links below), and include waiving certain standard EPO communications, or requesting acceleration under the Patent Prosecution Highway.
- EPO Practice Note concerning the PACE Programme (2015)
- EPO Practice Note concerning other ways to accelerate European Patent Applications (2015)
- EPO Practice Note concerning the Patent Prosecution Highway (2022)
Summary – Requesting Accelerated Examination under the PACE Programme
Accelerating patent applications at the European Patent Office using the PACE programme is straightforward and highly effective. No formal reasons are required, and the option to accelerate an application is available to all applicants upon request.
For applications that are accelerated, the EPO make every effort to issue communications from the examining division within three months of the applicant’s previous reply.
A request for acceleration must be filed in writing and for one application at a time. The EPO recommend using the official form EPO 1005 for filing the request. Requests for accelerated examination are not published on the official register and are excluded from file inspection.
The request for accelerated examination may only be filed once. The application is removed from the accelerated processing list if the PACE request is withdrawn, if the applicant requests an extension of time to a time limit, or if the normal deadline for paying a renewal fee is not met.
It is now only possible to request accelerated examination, and it is only possible to do this once the application has become the responsibility of the EPO examination division.
This article is for general information only. Its content is not a statement of the law on any subject and does not constitute advice. Please contact Reddie & Grose LLP for advice before taking any action in reliance on it.
