SME FUND 2024 – refunds for trademark, design and patent applications for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises!

The IV edition of the EUIPO SME Fund program is ahead – The Ideas Powered for Business SME Fund will be launched from January 22, 2024. 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 €18.85 million for trademarks and industrial designs and €1 million for patents.

Trademarks and designs – voucher on 1000 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 €1,000.

Patents for innovation – voucher on 3500 EUR for SME company

Patent prior art searches provided or coordinated by MS IPOs and the official administrative fees charged by the IPOs for the protection of national and European patents will be reimbursed by 75 % up to a maximum of EUR 1 500.

Patent prior art search service fees

The fees charged for providing patent prior art search services by the MS IPOs (including searches provided by the Visegrad Patent Institute).

Patent fees for national patent protection

The fees charged by the MS IPOs for registering national patents includes the applicable fees for obtaining national patent protection in an EU Member State (namely, filing, search and examination fees, grant and publication fees).

Fees for European patent applications

The fees, including both filing and search fees, charged by the European Patent Office (EPO) for European patents. Patent applications submitted via a Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) are not eligible.

The new is a legal costs for the drafting and filing of a new European patent application will be reimbursed by 50 % up to a maximum of EUR 2 000.

The legal costs for services related to the drafting and filing of new European patent applications are eligible if provided by persons or entities established in the EU and who are entitled to represent applicants in proceedings before the EPO in accordance with the European Patent Convention (EPC).

These costs are only reimbursed if the service is related to preparing and filing a European patent application that is duly filed at the EPO.

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.

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:

1. 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
2. Submission of an application for a reimbursement voucher.
3. Applications are considered on a first-come, first-served basis and until the pool of funds is exhausted.
4. The decision on granting the voucher shall be made within a maximum of 10 working days counted from each Friday of the week.
5. If the decision on the grant is positive, the voucher can be implemented. This must be done within 2 months from the date of receipt of the decision (the deadline can be extended for another 2 months).
6. In the next step, you need to pay the entire fees for the applications made.
7. Then you can submit another application for reimbursement of the refunded part of the fees.

The total budget earmarked for co-financing activities under the call for proposals is €20 million.