The Fund for SMEs «Ideas Powered for business 2024» is a grant program designed to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) of the EU to protect its industrial property rights (IP). Bill Fund for SMEs It is an initiative of the European Commission executed by the Intellectual Property Office of the European Union (EUIPO) and will be developed from January 22, 2024 to December 6, 2024.
Funds are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Why is it necessary to protect your industrial property?
Protect your industrial property It is a necessity in the digital age. It is a legal way to prevent your unique ideas, products or services from being copied or used without permission. The protection of industrial property through the Fund for SMEs It can encompass many different assets, such as trademarks, designs, patents and plant varieties.
Who can benefit from the SME Fund?
The SME Fund offers financial support to SMEs established in the European Union. The request can be submitted by an owner, an employee, or an authorized third-party representative acting on his or her behalf. The grants are awarded to the SME and the reimbursement is always transferred directly to the SME's bank account.
Steps to benefit from the SME Fund:
Register for our in its "SME Fund account» and send the application form once you have decided which type of bonus(es) best suits your business needs. For more information, see the frequently asked questions. Once your application is approved, you will receive a grant award notification and its) voucher(s) within fifteen business days*. Next, you can request the industrial property activities you need. To be reimbursed for the IP activities you have requested, you must request a refund once you have paid activities using the form available in your SME Fund account.
**The vouchers are valid for two months from the moment you receive the subsidy. This validity period may be extended for further periods. 2 months. If you need an extension, you can request one directly through your SME Fund account during the last month of the original two-month period. During this time, you can request and pay for the industrial property activities related to your granted bonus(es) and then request the corresponding refund, thus activating your bonus(es).
Once you have activated your bonus(es), there is «application period» during which you can request more activities and request an additional refund within the scope of your bonus(es). This period lasts:
6 months for trademark, design and model bonds 12 months for patent and community protection bonds for plant varieties
Activities for which you can apply
The 2024 edition of the SME Fund covers several activities to help you develop your industrial property asset strategy based on your company's needs.
Brands and designs
*The level of protection you choose (national, regional, international or EU) will depend on your business strategy and growth plans.
The Fund offers the following:
For brands and designs or models:
Refund of 75% of EU trademark and design application fees, fees for additional classes and fees for examination, registration, publication and deferral of publication. Refund of 75% of application fees for national or regional trademarks and designs, fees for additional classes and fees for examination, registration, publication and postponement of publication. Refund of 50% of basic trademark and design application fees, designation fees and subsequent designation fees outside the EU. Designation fees from EU countries are included in the SME Fund 2024 scheme. Processing fees charged by the home office are excluded.
In the case of patents:
Refund of 75% of the fees for a “prior art search report”. The report, prior to applying for a patent, covers the entire world and must be carried out or coordinated by a national IP office of an EU Member State or the Visegrad Patent Institute. Please contact your national IP office to find out what procedures apply in your country.
Refund of 75% of fees for patent pre-grant (filing, search and examination), granting and publication of national protection in an EU Member State.
Refund of 75% of filing and search fees for European patents filed at the European Patent Office (EPO). All other fees corresponding to a European patent are excluded.
Reimbursement of 50% of legal costs arising from the drafting and filing of European patent applications, for a maximum amount of EUR 2 000, depending on the nationally applicable cost for these services. The refund is subject to the following conditions:
service includes writing y the filing of a European patent application; the service has been provided by a professional representative, a lawyer or an association of professional representatives established in the EU and registered in the official list of the EPO. The refund request must be submitted online within the established deadlines.
All other fees corresponding to a European patent are excluded.
In the case of a community plant variety protection right:
Refund of 75% of online application and examination fees for Community Plant Variety Protection (EU level).
The maximum reimbursable amount per SME is:
1 EUR for activities related to the IP Scan service (the amount varies depending on the country); EUR 1 000 for activities related to trademarks, designs and models; €3 for patent-related activities; EUR 500 1 for activities related to the Community protection of plant varieties.
You can access all the detailed information on how to apply for this fund for SMEs HERE.
Information source: European Union Intellectual Property Office.
