SME FUND 2025 – refunds for trademark, design and patent applications for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises!
The 5th edition of the EUIPO SME Fund program is ahead of us – the Ideas Powered for Business SME Fund started on February 3, 2025. This is a European Commission initiative to support SMEs, put into practice by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). Assistance to micro, small and medium-sized entrepreneurs takes the form of refunding part of the official fees associated with applications for trademarks, industrial designs and patents.
Total funding in the program is €18 million, 2 million less than a year ago.
Trademarks and designs – voucher on 700 EUR for SME company
The refund is 75% of official fees for trademark and design applications within the EU and individual member states, and 50% outside the EU for international registrations. The maximum reimbursement of official fees is €700.
Patents for innovation – voucher on 3500 EUR for SME company
For patents, the reimbursement is 75% of the fee for the state of the art examination conducted or coordinated by the intellectual property offices of the member states and the official administrative fees charged by the intellectual property offices. The maximum reimbursement value is €3500.
The fees charged by member state intellectual property offices for registration of national patents include the applicable fees for obtaining national patent protection in an EU member state (namely, application, examination and examination fees, grant and publication fees).
Fees, including both filing and examination fees, charged by the European Patent Office (EPO) for European patents.
Patent applications filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty are not eligible.
Legal costs for services related to the drafting and filing of new European patent applications are eligible if these services are provided by persons or entities established in the EU who are authorized to represent applicants in proceedings before the EPO in accordance with the European Patent Convention. These costs are reimbursed only if the service involves the preparation and filing of a European patent application that has been duly filed with the European Patent Office.
Community plant varieties
However, for new plant varieties for EU-level applications, the refund is 75% of the official fee. The maximum value of the refund is €1,500.
Are you interested in receiving a voucher? Write to us, we will help the reimbursement procedure free of charge!
Who can apply for reimbursement?
To be eligible, applicants must be micro, small or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) based in one of the EU member states or in Ukraine, in territories that are under the effective control of the Ukrainian government at the time of application.
Foundations are eligible to apply for funding from the SME Fund, provided that one or more public bodies control directly or indirectly, jointly or individually, less than 25% of their capital or voting rights.
Companies that received reimbursement in previous years this year can also apply for a voucher.
How does the procedure work?
As in previous years, we will help you with the reimbursement procedure free of charge. Below we indicate step-by-step actions:
- Documents are needed to submit the application
- Certificate of VAT number
- Certificate of ownership of a bank account
- A scan of the signed and completed power of attorney
- Information on whether you are a micro, small or medium-sized enterprise
- Submission of an application for a reimbursement voucher.
- Applications are considered on a first-come, first-served basis and until the pool of funds is exhausted.
- The decision on granting the voucher shall be made within a maximum of 10 working days counted from each Friday of the week.
- If the decision on the grant is positive, the voucher can be implemented. This must be done within 1 month from the date of receipt of the decision (the deadline can be extended for another 1 month).
- In the next step, you need to pay the entire fees for the applications made.
- Then you can submit another application for reimbursement of the refunded part of the fees.