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PCT Automation Project -IMPACT- Gathers Momentum

Geneva, January 11, 2000
Press Releases PR/2000/203

A 40-million Swiss Franc project to fully automate the operations of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) went into full swing this month following the signing of a major contract between the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and a consortium. Representatives of the consortium began meetings after the new year break with a WIPO team of specialists to start work on the analysis and design phase of this major project.

The project, known by the acronym IMPACT (Information Management for the PAtent Cooperation Treaty), is one of the top priorities of WIPO Director General, Dr. Kamil Idris. "We are keen to take full advantage of the opportunities offered by information technology in supporting the Organization's international registration services," Dr. Idris said. He added "The IMPACT project is the largest single information technology project ever undertaken by WIPO and its success is of the highest priority for this Organization."

The rapid expansion of the PCT system - the number of international applications has grown from 2,625 in 1979 to over 70,000 in 1999 - shows the importance of this treaty to the intellectual property community, Dr. Idris pointed out. Automation of the PCT, which implements the concept of a single international patent application that is valid in any of the 106 contracting states, would mean lower costs for applicants who will also benefit from more efficient services. Since international applications contain valuable technical information, the public also stands to gain from this transformation by being able to access more PCT information in electronic and searchable form.

The first part of the contract to develop a comprehensive computer system for managing and administering PCT activities was awarded to a consortium of three companies under the leadership of Xerox Professional Services (XPS) U.K. The other members of the consortium are Cap Gemini (France) and Hewlett Packard (Switzerland). The award of contract for a Systems Developer resulted from an extensive international tendering process which attracted a total of 35 bids from throughout the world. A rigorous evaluation process, involving face-to-face meetings with five short-listed bidders and an assessment based on over a thousand different criteria, was designed to ensure that the winner will supply the best value-for-money solution to meet the business requirements of the PCT. The evaluation process involved input from six offices of the PCT, representing the different regions of the world.

Experts from the consortium and a core WIPO team of information technology specialists, responsible for the management and delivery of the system, began work on the analysis and design component of the project in the new year. The award of the second part of the contract - implementation phase - will hinge on the successful completion of system benchmarking tests to determine the viability of the design. These tests, which will be jointly undertaken by WIPO and the consortium during the first half of this year, will ensure that the proposed technical solution meets the functionality and performance requirements stipulated by WIPO.

The main objectives of the IMPACT Project include:

  • to offer further improved services to PCT applicants;
  • to prepare the ground for future fee reductions by lowering PCT operating costs;
  • to streamline work procedures and establish a more efficient and cost effective operation for the administration of the PCT through the implementation of an automated information and document management system;
  • to create and make available to PCT applicants and national Offices electronic filing software;
  • to improve services for national and regional Offices and to establish generalized solutions for electronic data exchange between the Office of the PCT and the national and regional Offices as well as the PCT International Searching and Preliminary Examining Authorities, including electronic publishing and the dissemination of PCT information.

The overall project is expected to be completed in 3 to 4 years, with the first components of the new system being delivered towards the end of this year.

Management of the project will remain in the hands of WIPO. The initial approach had been to outsource the entire project to a systems integrator. However, following further analysis and advice from certain member states which had undertaken similar large scale projects, especially in the area of document imaging, it was decided to move the responsibility and management of the project in-house and to maintain a healthy balance between internal and external resources. Heavy involvement of PCT operational staff is critical to the success of the project. Key PCT staff have already been moved permanently into the project team and priority has been placed on activities such as training, change management and maintaining good internal communications throughout the project.

For further information on the project, please consult document A/32/5 on WIPO's web site www.wipo.int or call the Media Relations and Public Affairs Section at WIPO:

 

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