The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) launched the Semiconductor Technology Pilot Program on December 1, 2023 for patent applications for processes or apparatuses for manufacturing semiconductor devices. Applications that meet the requirements will be advanced out of turn for examination (granted special status) until a first Office Action is issued.
The program aims to foster advancement in the semiconductor industry by facilitating the examination of patent applications related to certain semiconductor manufacturing innovations. The program is intended to reinforce the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) Act of 2022 and Biden's 2022 Executive Order 14080, which administers the incentives for semiconductor production set out by the CHIPS Act. Read more