In an effort to spur more innovation in communities across the United States, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announced the launch of the Inclusive Innovation Council's (CI2) first-of-its-kind pilot Applicant Expedited Review program. The new initiative benefits first-time patent filers or small businesses that qualify as "micro-entities," including those underrepresented in the field of innovation, who will receive rapid initial feedback on their applications from the agency, known as a "preliminary review opinion."

The USPTO receives approximately 40,000 patent applications each year in which at least one inventor is a first-time applicant. For a smaller number of first-time applicants, waiting times in the patent application process can be a barrier to commercialization, especially for those from underserved geographic and economic areas, women, people of color, and veterans. For patentable innovations, expedited review can bring them to market faster.

The First Time Applicant Expedited Review Program will accept up to 1,000 applications for expedited review. The pilot program requires participants to receive reasonable training in the patent application process to work more effectively with the USPTO and maximize the benefits of speedy examination. The pilot project website provides a range of free training resources for applicants to use in order to meet such requirements.