The operational launch of the 2026 SME Fund is hereby announced. This strategic initiative is promoted by the European Commission and implemented by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). The programme is designed to bolster the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises through the strengthening of intellectual property rights (IPR) protection.
The initiative aims to provide direct financial support for the protection of intangible assets, fostering economic development and business resilience within the single market.
Structure of Contributions (Vouchers)
The system of grants is structured into four types of vouchers, intended to cover different categories of services and rights:
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Voucher 1 – IP Scan Services (Pre-diagnostic): A 90% reimbursement is foreseen for professional consultancy activities aimed at defining an intellectual property strategy (IP Scan) and for assistance in cases of rights infringement (IP Scan Enforcement).
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Voucher 2 – Trade Marks and Designs: The grant covers 75% of application fees for trade marks, designs and models at national, regional and EU levels, and 50% for international applications.
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Voucher 3 – Patents: A 75% reimbursement is recognized for ‘prior art’ searches and for the filing fees of national and European patents. Furthermore, the fund contributes 50% towards legal costs for the drafting and filing of European patent applications.
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Voucher 4 – Community Plant Varieties: A 75% reimbursement is provided on the online application and examination fees for the protection of plant varieties at the Community level.
Eligibility Requirements
Access to the funds is reserved exclusively for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) established in the European Union. It is specified that the disbursement of contributions is also accessible to business entities that have already benefited from previous editions of the fund, subject to the submission of a new application for the 2026 annual period.
Strategic Relevance
The protection of intellectual property represents a pivotal element for the valorisation of a company’s intangible capital. Adherence to the SME Fund allows for the mitigation of the financial burden connected to registration procedures, facilitating the integration of legal protection within innovation and development processes.
Access Modalities
Grant applications will be handled in chronological order of submission, until the allocated resources are exhausted. For further technical details and for the submission of applications, please refer to the official documentation on the EUIPO portal.