Protect your intellectual property: SME Fund open for grant applications again

Even this year, small and medium-sized companies have the opportunity to receive financial support to protect and gain greater control over their intellectual property under the Ideas Powered for Business SME Fund grant programme. The support is granted by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO).

What is the support granted for?

Support is granted for:

• charges paid to a public authority when applying for a trademark or a design right
• IP pre-diagnostic service (IP Scan)
• charges paid to a public authority when applying for a patent
• patent novelty searches carried out by public authorities
• registration of an EU Community Plant Variety Right
  

The applicant must have received an affirmative decision on granted support (a voucher) before paying any application and service fees.

Read more about the IP pre-diagnostic service (IP Scan).

When to apply for the support

The application period begins on 23 January 2023.

Initially, the EUIPO SME Fund will only consider applications for support for trademark and design right applications and the IP Scan service. Applications for support for patents and the Community Plant Variety Right will be accepted later.

According to the current information, the deadline for applications is 8 December 2023.

Where to apply for the support

Send your application to the EUIPO SME Fund.

Read further instructions on the EUIPO’s web page.Open link in a new tab

How much support is available?

The amount of support depends on the applications your company has filed and the services it has ordered. The support is disbursed retrospectively for the fees your company has paid. The amount paid out varies according to what the support is granted for (50–90%).

Maximum amounts of SME Fund support:

• Charges paid to a public authority when applying for a trademark or a design right: EUR 1,000
• IP pre-diagnostic service (IP Scan): EUR 1,350
• Charges paid to a public authority when applying for patent and patent novelty searches carried out by public authorities: a total of EUR 1,500
• Registration application of the EU Community Plant Variety Right: EUR 225
  

During 2023, an individual company may be granted a maximum of EUR 4,075 in support by the SME Fund.

Further information

Olli Ilmarinen
Development Specialist
Finnish Patent and Registration Office
Tel. 029 509 5236

Tuulimarja Myllymäki
Head Legal Adviser
Finnish Patent and Registration Office
Tel. 029 509 5399