According to the SIPO, starting from March 1, 2012, any PPH (Patent Prosecution Highway) request with SIPO under PPH pilot project must be submitted in electronic form.

If an applicant only submitted the application in paper form before March 1, 2012, he/it should convert the patent application into electronic form.   

As of now, in an effort to improve patent examination efficiency, the SIPO has cooperated with Japan Patent Office (JPO), United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and German Patent and Trademark Office (DPMA) to develop the pilot project "Patent Prosecution Highway". The pilot PPH project with the Republic of Korea will be launched on March 1.