Starting from September 16, 2024, businesses can once again benefit from the EU’s Ideas Powered for Business SME Fund, which offers grants to reimburse expenses related to the registration of intellectual property rights. This is an excellent opportunity for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to reduce the costs of protecting their ideas and brands.
What is the SME Fund, and what does it offer?
The SME Fund is a program initiated by the European Commission and implemented through the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). Its goal is to support SMEs by offering grants to cover part of the fees for trademarks, designs, patents, and plant varieties registration.
It’s important to note that the program runs until December 5, 2024.
What expenses are covered by the grant?
Grants are provided in the form of vouchers, which can be used to reimburse registration fees and certain other related costs. Below are the main categories:
Up to €1,000 — Reimbursement of up to 75% of the fees for trademarks and designs registration at the EU and national levels, and up to 50% at the international level.
Up to €1,500 — Reimbursement of up to 75% of the fees for obtaining patents at the national and European levels.
Up to €2,000 — Reimbursement of up to 50% of the legal costs related to European patents. It’s important to note that this voucher can only be used to reimburse costs for services provided by EU professional representatives.
Up to €1,500 — Reimbursement of up to 75% of the fees for new plant varieties registration at the European level.
Who can participate in the program?
The program is available to small and medium-sized enterprises that wish to register their intellectual property rights within the European Union.
How to apply for the grant?
The application process is quite simple:
1. Register on the SME Fund platform via the official website.
2. Submit your application along with the necessary documents.
3. Once approved, you will receive vouchers that can be used to cover registration fees.
Funds will be transferred directly to your bank account. It’s important to remember that the program operates on a reimbursement basis, meaning you will first need to pay the fees, and the SME Fund will refund the costs according to the voucher terms.
Documents needed to apply:
1. VAT certificate
2. Bank statement
3. Power of attorney
For more detailed information, visit the official EUIPO website.