Indonesia Sets Ambitious Goal to Become International Patent Authority

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia is stepping up its bid to join the ranks of world-class intellectual property offices by pursuing International Searching Authority (ISA) status -- a designation that would allow the country to conduct international patent searches and issue written opinions under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).

Director General of Intellectual Property at the Ministry of Law, Hermansyah Siregar, emphasized that achieving ISA status is a non-negotiable commitment. He noted that Indonesia already has strong foundations, from an independent system to a demographic advantage with abundant young talent.

“One of the benchmarks of a world-class IP office is holding ISA status. We must show seriousness, determination, and a vision that must be realized,” Hermansyah said in Jakarta on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

He added that Indonesia’s self-sufficiency in systems and its demographic dividend provide momentum for the ministry to work in synergy to ensure the program’s success.

With ISA status, Indonesia would gain the authority to perform international patent searches and provide written opinions on inventions filed through the PCT system. Hermansyah stressed that the country’s strategy is to work in parallel and in synergy to accelerate its goal of becoming a globally recognized IP office.

“We cannot afford to lag behind our neighbors. If they can achieve it, Indonesia can certainly do even better,” he asserted.

The target was discussed during a coordination meeting on March 12, attended by senior officials of the Directorate General of Intellectual Property (DJKI), including Director of Cooperation, Empowerment, and Education, Yasmon, and Director of Information Technology Chusni Thamrin.

The meeting underscored that preparations for ISA status require cross-directorate integration -- from strengthening regulations and international cooperation to ensuring digital infrastructure readiness.

A detailed work calendar was also outlined, with Hermansyah calling for strict monthly monitoring of each stage, from intensive training for patent examiners to meeting minimum documentation standards under the PCT.

Chusni Thamrin highlighted the importance of data validation and IT system integration to access global patent databases required by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

Meanwhile, Yasmon will facilitate formal consultations with international counterparts and benchmark against neighboring countries that already hold ISA status, such as the Philippines and Singapore.

The overarching goal is to complete all administrative and technical steps by the end of this year, paving the way for Indonesia to finalize its agreement with WIPO. ***