SME-fund-2023-tracking-code
SME Fund 2023
The Ideas Powered for business SME Fund is a grant scheme designed to help EU small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) protect their intellectual property (IP) rights. The SME Fund is a European Commission initiative implemented by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and will run from 23 January 2023 to 8 December 2023.
Funds are limited and available on a first come, first served basis.
If you want to request reimbursement of your vouchers from the SME Fund 2022, access your SME Fund account to fill in the reimbursement request form.
Why protecting your intellectual property is necessary
Who can benefit from the SME Fund
How the SME Fund works:
Select
YOUR COUNTRY
Trade Marks & Designs
€1,000
To use for trade mark & design eligible fees.
Patents
€1,500
To use for eligible patent fees
Community Plant Variety
€225
To use for community plant variety online application fee.
Trade Marks & Designs
€1,000
To use for trade mark & design eligible fees.
Patents
€1,500
To use for eligible patent fees
Community Plant Variety
€225
To use for community plant variety online application fee.
These are the steps for you to benefit from the SME Fund:
- Register, log in to your ‘SME Fund account’ and submit the application form once you have decided which type of voucher(s) best suits your business needs. You may refer to the FAQs for more information.
- Once your application is approved, you will receive a grant award notification and your voucher(s)*. You can then request the IP activities you require.
- In order to be reimbursed for your requested IP activities, you need to apply for reimbursement after you have paid for the activities using the form available in your SME Fund account.
*Note:
Vouchers are valid for 2 months from the moment you receive the grant. This validity period can be extended by another 2 months. If you need an extension, you can request it directly through your SME Fund account during the last month of the original 2-month period. During this period, you can request and pay for the IP activities related to your granted voucher(s) and then request the corresponding reimbursement, thus activating your voucher(s).
Be sure to use your voucher(s) during their validity period!
If your voucher expires without being extended or activated, it cannot be used to request any reimbursement. You will not be entitled to request the SME Fund again for the same voucher, during the same year.
Once you have activated your voucher(s), there is an ‘implementation period’ during which you can request further activities and ask for additional reimbursement within the scope of your voucher(s). This period lasts:
- 6 months for IP Scan, Trade Marks & Designs vouchers
- 12 months for Patents voucher
There is no ‘implementation period’ for the community plant variety voucher as it will be fully consumed once the first reimbursement is requested.
Activities you can apply for
90% reimbursement for IP pre-diagnostic services (IP Scan)
- Through arranged interviews with an IP expert designated by the national IP office, you collaboratively examine your business model, products or services and growth plans to determine the most appropriate IP strategy for your business. IP Scan does not constitute a legal service.
- After the assessment, the IP expert will provide you with a full report on your IP strategy and propose a set of best practices and recommendations on how to manage, protect, and develop your IP rights in the future.
- IP Scan covers all intellectual property rights (trade marks, designs, patents, utility models, plant varieties, geographical indications) as well as those that are unregistered/unregistrable (e.g. copyrights, trade secrets, company names, domain names).
- For more detailed information on the IP Scan service and its benefits, please visit the IP Scan page. For more information on IP Scan within the framework of the SME Fund, please consult your IP office website.
The level of protection you choose (national, regional, EU, or international) will depend on your business strategy and your growth plans. If you are unsure about what sort of protection to apply for, or at which territorial level, an IP pre-diagnostic service (IP Scan) or a free IP consultation (Free personalised IP support service) can help you make the right choice.
- 75% reimbursement of trade mark and design fees at EU level
You can apply for a 75% reimbursement of trade mark and/or design application fees, additional class fees, and examination, registration, publication and deferment of publication fees at EU level. The registration for this type of protection should be through the EUIPO. - 75% reimbursement of trade mark and design fees at national and regional level
You can apply for a 75% reimbursement of trade mark and/or design application fees, additional class fees, and examination, registration, publication and deferment of publication fees at national and regional level. The registration for this type of protection should be directly through a national IP office or the Benelux Office for Intellectual Property (for protection at regional level covering Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg). - 50% reimbursement of trade mark and design fees outside the EU
You can apply for a 50% reimbursement of trade mark and/or design basic application fees, designation fees, and subsequent designation fees outside the EU. Designation fees for EU countries are excluded as are handling fees charged by the office of origin. The application for this type of protection should be through the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
- 75% reimbursement of the fees for a "Prior Art Search Report".
The report, prior to a patent application, is performed worldwide and must be conducted or coordinated by a national IP office of an EU Member State. - 75% reimbursement of patent pre-grant (filing, search, and examination), grant, and publication fees for national protection in an EU Member State.
- 75% reimbursement of filing and search fees for European patents filed at EPO.
All other fees for a European patent are excluded.
- 50% reimbursement of online application fee at EU level
You can apply for a 50% reimbursement of the online application fee. Paper applications are not eligible for reimbursement under the SME Fund. The application for this type of protection should be through the Community Plan Variety Office (CPVO).
Your IP Office also offers its own IP pre-diagnostic service which is not covered by the SME Fund. See here for more details.
Detailed information on limits and fees can be found in the call for proposals and corresponding annexes.
Before applying:
The application process is simple. Just make sure that you have the following documents ready when you apply. These documents must be in PDF format (scanned versions of physical documents in PDF format are accepted). All documentation submitted must be legible and without password protection.
Your company’s bank statement (sample) containing the following details: company name as account holder; full IBAN number with country code (examples); and BIC/SWIFT code.
Your company’s VAT certificate or national registration number certificate, issued by the competent national authority.
If your SME employs the services of an external representative or you are an external representative acting on behalf of an SME, you must submit a ‘Declaration of honour’ (template), signed by an authorised owner or employee of the SME.
Note: Be sure to have all your IP assets’ information ready, before starting the SME Fund application process to make the most out of your time.
List of fees and contacts
Below you can consult the list of reimbursable fees per activity and country, as well as the specific contacts at the EUIPO, WIPO and MS IPOs to get assistance with all aspects related to the SME Fund
This list is purely indicative and subject to further modification, as it compiles information from different sources. Please refer to the original source to get the most updated information
Here you can also find a summary of the Contacts at the National IP Offices (MS IPOs)
If you require assistance
You can find detailed information on the Ideas Powered for business SME Fund in the call for proposals.
If you have any questions, you can refer to our SME Fund Frequently Asked Questions or chat with us online in English, French, German, Italian or Spanish. We are also available at EUIPO Information Centre by calling +34 965 139 100 from Monday to Friday from 8.30 to 18.30 (GMT+1).
You can also send us an email enquiry in any one of the EU official languages information@euipo.europa.eu.
