The IP5 Offices estimate that the number of applications where work from one office could be reutilised by another office currently stands at up to 250 000 per year. An enhanced work-sharing among the five offices could contribute to significant increase in examination capacity.
The IP5 Offices agreed that in order to achieve their vision of eliminating unnecessary duplication of work, there are two prerequisites: quality and timely availability of search and examination results.
The quality of the searches and examination in all five offices should be executed to the same high standard, maximising the potential to eliminate unnecessary duplication of work.
IP5 projects in the area of work-sharing and quality include: