Judging Inventions
A Career as a Patent Examiner
for Engineers & Scientists
Introduction
IP is the new currency in the innovation-driven global economy. As we enter an era
where the most important economic value-add is knowledge, the protection of that
knowledge will increasingly be in focus. The creation, management, exploitation and
transaction of IP will become part and parcel of the mainstream activity of an advanced
economy.
Singapore is positioning to be a significant player in the global IP marketplace. We are
developing the infrastructure and the human capital to establish Singapore as an IP Hub
of Asia. Building on our reputation of trust, our knowledge infrastructure, and our
connectedness to the world, we hope to make Singapore the IP marketplace of choice in
Asia.
The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore, IPOS, is the lead agency to implement
Singapore's vision to be an IP Hub of Asia. As part of this effort, we are strengthening
our patent granting process. We envisage a strong patent regime where all applications
undergo stringent examination for patentability. When an inventor is granted a
Singapore patent for his invention, he has assurance that his claims had been
thoroughly researched and that they could withstand scrutiny in any jurisdiction.
Upholding the integrity and the quality of our Patent System is the work of our Patent
Examiners.
Patent System in Singapore
A patent is a monopoly granted by the Singapore government to the owner of an
invention. Within the lifetime of a patent which is typically 20 years, the patent owner
can enforce and exploit his or her invention in Singapore. The life of a patent begins
with the initial submission of a patent application to the Registry of Patents at IPOS. The
patent application is then subjected to a search and examination at our Patent Search
and Examination (S&E) Unit where we establish whether it meets the patentability
criteria under Singapore's legal framework. A patentable invention in Singapore has to
be novel, inventive and be capable of industrial application. Upon the grant of the
patent, the owner can exert his or her IP rights in Singapore and prevent others from
using, copying or making the invention without his or her consent in Singapore.
Role of a Patent Examiner
The role of the patent examiner is to determine the patentability of a new invention that
is the subject of a patent application. A search is performed in various databases to
compare the application against known inventions. Based on the search findings, the
novelty, inventiveness and industrial capability of the new invention are evaluated by our
examiners using their technical expertise and in-depth knowledge of patent law. Once the
patentability assessment is complete, a reasoned communication is sent to the applicant.
The applicant is then invited to respond to the examiner's observations and amend the
contents of his application. These amendments are re-examined by the examiner. It is this
iterative process which ensures that the patent eventually granted is strong and can stand
up to scrutiny. A patent examiner therefore has the key responsibility of balancing the
scope of the rights granted to the applicant and the interests of the public.
Training
Our examiners have the unique opportunity to work at the crossroads of law and
technology. Upon acceptance of the offer, successful candidates will join us as associate
patent examiners. Our new associate examiners will undergo a structured training
program that is designed to equip them with a thorough understanding of patent law
and specialized skills that are essential for patent search and examination. Our associate
patent examiners would then progress to on-the-job training mentored by our
experienced patent examiners.
Career Progression
Patent Examiners can expect a fulfilling and challenging career with us. Successful
candidates will join us as Associate Examiners, after which they will undergo an intensive
training programme. They will be promoted to Examiner after passing the requisite exams
and meeting organizational requirements. Subsequent promotions to Senior Examiner
and Principal Examiner will depend on the individual's leadership, coaching abilities and
performance, among other requirements.
Personal Qualities
We are looking for highly motivated and meticulous analytical thinkers to be part of our
team. You have to possess a genuine interest in keeping abreast with the latest
technological developments. Candidates who are independent workers with strong
interpersonal skills are important attributes we look for in our examiners.
Professional Requirements
We are looking for candidates who are experts in their own technical areas to join our
diverse team of patent examiners. A post graduate degree in science and engineering is
required. However, applications from candidates with a good class honors degree with
relevant patent examination experience and qualifications are welcome. Proficiency in
English is essential. Experience in patent prosecution or completion of Graduate
Certificate in IP would be an advantage.
Please visit our website at http://www.ipos.gov.sg for the more details and the vacancies
in various technical fields.
To Apply
Please submit your completed job application form (for Graduates) which can be
downloaded from our webpage to the Human Capital Director via the email
[email protected] or mail your application to the address stated below.
Contact Us
Intellectual Property Office of Singapore
51 Bras Basah Road
#04-01 Manulife Centre
Singapore 189554
Website: http://www.ipos.gov.sg/
Examiner’s Profile
Seah Kwang Hwee
Ph.D (Electrical & Electronics Engineering)
Before joining IPOS, I spent a year working as a Digital Integrated Circuit Designer at
Infineon Technologies, followed by another eight year stint at Institute for Infocomm
Research pursuing my doctoral and post-doctoral training. There are several compelling
reasons behind my decision to join the Search & Examination Unit.
IP and the protection of knowledge are becoming increasingly critical. Hence, it is
necessary to have a strong patent regime - where patents are granted based on positive
and stringent assessment of patentability. As the pioneering batch of patent examiners,
I can help shape the patent search and examination competency in Singapore and
contribute to the Singapore’s vision to be an IP hub of Asia. Next, I will remain at the
forefront of cutting edge technology and gain exposure to a wide variety of technical
areas. And of course, this career also allows me to make use of the analytical and
technical skills I gained during my training as an engineer.
Patent examination is intellectually challenging, since each patent application is unique
and an “intellectual puzzle”. Being a patent examiner allows me to hone my analytical
skills. To top it all, the skills of a patent examiner are transferable and sought-after in the
patent field.
We have a collegiate environment here where
everyone is intellectually curious and inquisitive.
It is amazing that we can simply walk over to the
next cubicle and strike up a conversation with
domain experts from very diverse areas. We have
domain experts from Engineering — info
communication technology, semi-conductors,
and nanotechnology — to Science — chemistry,
biotechnology, materials engineering.
In addition, we are given time-off every
Wednesday to exercise. Very often, colleagues
and I would do a seven-km jog from our office
to Gardens by the Bay or the Marina Barrage
before sweating it out at the gym. It serves as a
getaway from work and excellent channel to destress and keep fit at the same time.
Examiner’s Profile
Jamie Han YuLing
Ph.D (Materials Science and Engineering)
Prior to joining IPOS, I worked as a
Research Scientist at Nitto Denko
Asia Technical Centre in the area of
medical technology. In the industry,
product protection is often sought
prior to the commercialisation
phase, and for this reason, I was
introduced to patents from an
industry player's perspective. The
importance of obtaining a patent, to
me, is to safeguard our ideas and to
ensure that our efforts are not
exploited unlawfully. I realised then
that I wanted to contribute to the growing intellectual property industry and use my
knowledge and experience to help scientists protect their rightful work. I joined IPOS'
Search & Examination (S&E) Unit as an associate patent examiner last year to begin a new
chapter in my career.
Being part of the pioneering batch of associate patent examiners, I have had the unique
opportunity to be involved in laying the foundations of search and examination practice
in Singapore. Establishing the S&E Unit is a big step towards securing Singapore's future
as an IP hub of Asia and I am honoured to be a part of this effort. Patent examination is
intellectually stimulating work. The learning curve is steep as we take on patent law, a
subject that is far removed from the comfort of our technical expertise. It is necessary that
we keep abreast with the latest developments in technology, more so now as patent
examiners than when we were scientists and researchers. It is hard work but it is worth
every moment.
Therefore, to potential candidates, I urge you to apply to the S&E Unit if you have a
strong interest in dealing with cutting-edge technology, enjoy working in a dynamic and
diverse environment and are prepared to contribute to the research community in an
alternative way.
Intellectual Property Office of Singapore
51 Bras Basah Road, #04-01 Manulife Centre, Singapore 189554
Tel: (65) 63398616
Fax: (65) 63390252
http://www.ipos.gov.sg/
© 2013 Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS). All rights reserved.