On 26 March 2025, the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan adopted Resolution No. 185, approving the Regulation on the procedure for organizing state examination of applications for patents for inventions, utility models, and industrial designs on the basis of outsourcing.
The new procedure provides for the possibility of engaging individual experts or legal entities to conduct examinations in cases where the volume of applications exceeds the established norm or where the State Institution “Intellectual Property Center” under the Ministry of Justice lacks qualified specialists in the relevant field. The selection of external experts must be carried out in accordance with the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On public procurement” and the criteria established by the Regulation. For individuals applying to perform outsourced examinations, the following qualification requirements have been established:
- possession of higher education (preference is given to individuals with an academic degree);
- proven knowledge and practical experience in the field of intellectual property, supported by relevant documentation (such as a certificate of completion of the World Intellectual Property Organization training courses and/or experience in filing applications);
- at least five years of professional activity in the relevant field.
If the applicant is a legal entity, it must be a research or production organization operating in the field relevant connected with the subject matter of the application. Furthermore, the organization must employ staff members who meet the criteria established for individual experts.
This mechanism is aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of the intellectual property protection system in the Republic of Uzbekistan. The introduction of outsourcing is expected to ensure timely and high-quality examination of applications in light of increasing demand, while also enabling a more flexible and prompt response to the growing pace of innovation in the country.
