Ilieva, Voutcheva & Co. Law Firm kindly reminds that the SME fund at the European Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) still has available resources to subsidize small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the field of intellectual property. Upon application, a voucher for a grant is provided, which can be used for reimbursement of incurred expenses.
Who can apply and what is the application timeframe
Only micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises can be beneficiaries of the fund. The criteria for distinguishing between them are as follows:
- Micro-enterprises
- Average number of staff fewer than 10 people; and
- Annual turnover not exceeding EUR 2 million, or balance sheet total not exceeding EUR 2 millionо.
2. Small enterprises
- Average number of staff fewer than 50 people; and
- Annual turnover not exceeding EUR 10 million, or balance sheet total not exceeding EUR 10 million.
3. Medium-sized enterprises
- Average number of staff fewer than 250 people; and
- Annual turnover not exceeding EUR 50 million, or balance sheet total not exceeding EUR 43 million.
The application period started on 03 February 2025 and will run until 05 December 2025. Please note that the fund’s resources are limited, and for certain categories of expenses, the funds may be depleted well before the end of the campaign.
Which expenses can be reimbursed
There is a cap on the costs that can be reimbursed through the fund. Each enterprise may receive reimbursement for:
- Up to 75% of costs incurred for trademark and design protection, or up to EUR 700;
- Up to 90% of costs for IP Scan (preliminary IP diagnostics) and IP Scan Enforcement, or up to EUR 450 for Bulgaria;
- Up to 75% of costs for a prior art search before filing a patent application, or up to EUR 1,000;
- Up to 50% of patent application costs, or up to EUR 1,500;
- Up to 75% of costs for protecting new plant varieties at European level, or up to EUR 1,500.
Procedure
Obtaining funds starts with submitting an application, which must precede the incurring of costs for IP protection. After approval, a voucher is issued, which can be used after the actual expenses have been made. To facilitate the process, the applicant can authorize a representative for the entire process, from application to reimbursement. You can contact the team at Ilieva, Voutcheva & Co. Law Firm for any kind of representation before the EPO.
The news above is for information purposes only. It is not (binding) legal advice. For a thorough understanding of the subjects covered and prior acting on any issue discussed we kindly recommend Readers consult Ilieva, Voutcheva & Co. Law Firm attorneys at law.
