EUIPO SME FUND 2026 “Ideas Powered for Business”

EUIPO SME FUND 2026 “Ideas Powered for Business”

Starting from 2 February 2026 through 4 December 2026, the SME Fund will reopen, allowing small and medium-sized enterprises to apply for vouchers that provide partial reimbursement of costs incurred for the protection of intellectual property rights.

For the sixth consecutive year, the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) is once again launching the “Ideas Powered for Business” initiative, aimed at providing financial support to EU small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), including micro enterprises, for the protection of their intellectual property (IP) rights, with a total budget of approximately € 23 million.

Through this financial support, the aim is to prevent SMEs, particularly those facing economic challenges, from cutting back on spending for their intellectual property portfolios and/or their protection.

The financial support will be provided in the form of vouchers, as follows:

• Voucher 1: IP Scan (pre-diagnostic services) and IP Scan Enforcement (not applicable to Italy, see below)
• Voucher 2: Trade Marks and Designs
• Voucher 3: Patents
• Voucher 4: Community Plant Varieties

It is worth remembering that the scheme operates on a “first come, first served” basis, i.e. applications will be processed in chronological order of filing.

In the light of the strong uptake and success of the initiative in previous editions, we recommend not delaying the assessment of whether to take advantage of this measure.

Calendar

Timeframe for submitting applications: from 02/02/2026 to 04/12/2026 (unless funds run out).

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must be small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) based in an EU Member State or Ukraine (territories under effective Ukrainian control at the time of application).

We remind you that the main criteria for being considered an SME are:

1. Number of employees, and
2. Annual turnover

Important remark: Vouchers may also be requested by individuals, on condition that they are self-employed. In such cases, a document certifying the performance of an economic activity must be submitted to the EUIPO.

Beneficiaries will also be required to submit a self-declaration confirming that they have not received and will not receive funding from other EU programmes for the same activities.

It should be noted that a voucher application may be submitted even if SME Fund incentives were obtained in previous years, provided that the intellectual property right concerned is different (e.g. the filing of a different trade mark).

VOUCHER 1 – IP Scan & IP Scan Enforcement

This Voucher is not applicable to Italy, as the Italian Patent and Trade Mark Office does not provide these services.

VOUCHER 2 – Trade Marks and Designs

Eligible IP rights include trade marks and designs filed directly — and in electronic form where possible — with the EUIPO and the IP offices of the EU Member States.

The reimbursement covers application filing fees, class fees, examination fees, registration fees, publication fees, and fees for deferred publication.

This initiative aims to broaden the support currently available to EU SMEs by accompanying them in their internationalisation process, while at the same time boosting innovation and global competitiveness.

Reimbursable fees include those charged for applications (including basic fees, designation fees, and subsequent designation fees) under the following systems:

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

Designation fees for an international trade mark and/or design are eligible, including those designating EU Member States and/or the EUIPO. Handling fees charged by the Office of Origin for an international trade mark and/or design application are excluded from this scheme.

VOUCHER 3 - Patents

At national level:

At European level:

Attention! The legal costs mentioned above are eligible only if the corresponding services are provided by individuals or entities established in the EU and authorized to represent applicants in proceedings before the European Patent Office (EPO), in accordance with the European Patent Convention (EPC).

No voucher can be issued for a PCT patent application.

VOUCHER 4 – Community Plant Varieties

How to Apply

Vouchers are not retroactive; any costs incurred for activities carried out before receiving the voucher cannot be reimbursed.

The steps to follow are:

1. Submit the voucher application
2. EUIPO decision (usually within 8 to 10 working days)
3. Voucher issuance
4. File the IP right of interest (paying the official fees)
5. Submit the reimbursement request

The voucher is not an advance on costs; it allows partial reimbursement of the amount paid after the application has been filed.

The online application form should become available soon.

As EUIPO SME funds usually run out quickly, and there is no guarantee that they will be replenished, it is advisable to submit voucher applications as soon as possible and we at INTERPATENT are available to offer our assistance in this matter.