EUIPO SME Fund 2025

EUIPO SME Fund 2025

Beginning 3 February 2025 and ending 5 December 2025, the SME Fund is again open for vouchers that provide access to partial reimbursement of expenses incurred in protecting intellectual property rights.

Thus, for the fifth consecutive year, the European Commission's initiative called “Ideas Powered for Business SME Fund” implemented by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) to provide financial support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the EU and Ukraine for the protection of their intellectual property rights is being repeated, representing a joint effort by the EUIPO, the European Commission and EU national IP offices in response to the challenges faced by European SMEs in the context of post-pandemic recovery and the current situation in Ukraine.

The action specifically aims to assist European SMEs in maximizing the value of their IP assets by providing them with financial support for IP-related expenses. With such financial support, the intention is to prevent SMEs under financial pressure from reducing their investments in their IP assets and/or the protection of such assets.

Financial support will be provided in the form of vouchers:

• Voucher 1: IP Scan (pre-diagnostic services) and IP Scan Enforcement (the amounts set for each beneficiary vary among the EU Member States. This voucher cannot be used for Italy, as the Italian Patent and Trade Mark Office does not provide these services)
• Voucher 2: Trade Marks and Designs
• Voucher 3: Patents
• Voucher 4: Plant Varieties

All vouchers have a cap and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Speaking of Vouchers 2, 3 and 4, with a total budget of 18 million euros (17.1 million euros for trade marks and designs and 900.000 euros for patents and plant varieties) for the current year, they alone will enable small and medium-sized enterprises to save up to 5,700 euros each on investments in industrial property.

Timetable

Call submission period: from 03/02/2025 to 05/12/2025.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must be small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) based in one of the EU Member States or in Ukraine (territories under effective Ukrainian control at the time the voucher application is submitted). Beneficiaries must submit a self-declaration that they have not received and will not receive funding from other national or EU programs for the same activities or part of such activities.

VOUCHER 2 – Trade Marks and Designs 

Up to 700 euro per beneficiary for:

• the protection of trade marks and designs within the EU (at national, regional and EU level)

This voucher is applicable to trade marks and designs filed directly and electronically (where possible) at the EUIPO or the national IP offices of the Member States. In accordance with the European Commission's principle of co-financing programs, eligible EU SMEs can claim a 75% reimbursement of fees paid to obtain trade mark, design and model protection in the EU (including application, class, examination, registration, publication and deferment of publication fees). This reimbursement also extends to IP fees similar to those for trade marks under current law (e.g., logo protection under Portuguese law is included);

• the protection of trade marks and designs outside the EU

To support the growth of EU SMEs on a more international scale, eligible fees for WIPO International trade marks and designs can be reimbursed up to 50%. This activity aims to expand the support currently offered to EU SMEs by accompanying them in the process of internationalization while boosting their innovation and competitiveness on a global scale.

Reimbursable fees are those charged for applications (including base fees, designation fees, and subsequent designation fees) under the:

• the International Trade Mark System (Madrid System);
• the International Design System (The Hague System).

Reimbursement is available for designation fees for international trade marks and/or designs, including EU Member States and/or EUIPO, but not for handling fees charged by the offices of origin for international trade mark and/or design applications.

VOUCHER 3 - Patents 

Up to 3.500 euro per beneficiary, for:

1. fees charged by IP offices of EU Member States for the registration of national patents, including filing fees, prior art search and examination fees, publication and grant fees;

2a. fees related to European patents, including both filing and search fees;

2b. attorney fees (consulting) for drafting and filing a new European patent application.

Any SME that meets the eligibility requirements can apply for a 75% reimbursement for fees under item 1, up to a maximum of 1,000 euro, a 75% reimbursement for fees under item 2a, up to a maximum of 1,000 euro, and a 50% reimbursement for fees under item 2b, up to a maximum of 1,500 euro.

SMEs can apply both for a patent voucher for the purpose of national patent protection and a separate voucher for European patent protection, but not in the same voucher application.

VOUCHER 4 – Plant Varieties 

Up to 1,500 euro per beneficiary for

• obtaining a 75% reimbursement of online filing and examination fees payable to the CPVO in respect of Community plant variety right applications.

How to Apply

Vouchers are not retroactive; any costs for activities performed before receiving the voucher cannot be reimbursed. Applicants should use the online application form (eForm) available on the Ideas Powered for business SME FUND initiative webpage at the following address: https://euipo.europa.eu/sme-fund-2025/user/login?destination=/sme-fund-2025/

As part of our full-range IP services, we at Interpatent are available to provide further information and guidance to SMEs in navigating through the EUIPO SME Fund 2025.