The European Commission and the European Union Intellectual Property Office launched a €47 million fund to protect the intellectual property of EU SME. This new grant scheme aims at supporting SMEs in the Covid-19 recovery and in the green and digital transitions. Through a quick and easy application process, each SME can save up to EUR 2 250 per application. The fund offers partial reimbursements of trade mark, design and patent application fees as well as IP Scan services throughout 2022-2024. The IP Scan service can help companies identify their intellectual property assets and gives advice on how to protect these assets.
The EU SME Fund, with a budget of €47 million, will offer the following support:
• Reimburse 90% of the fees charged by Member States for IP Scan services, which provide a broad assessment of the intellectual property needs of the applying SME, taking into account the innovative potential of its intangible assets;
• Reimburse 75% of the fees charged by intellectual property offices (including national intellectual property offices, the European Union Intellectual Property Office and the Benelux Intellectual Property Office) for trademark and design registration;
• Reimburse 50% of the fees charged by the World Intellectual Property Organisation for obtaining international trade mark and design protection;
• Reimburse 50% of the fees charged by national patent offices for the registration of patents in 2022;
• From 2023, further services could be covered e.g. partial reimbursement of the costs of the patent prior art search, of the patent filing application; private IP advice charged by IP attorneys (for patent registration, licensing agreements, IP valuation, alternative dispute resolution costs, etc.).
The European Union Intellectual Property Office will manage the SME IP Fund through calls for proposals. The first call is available here
In order to ensure fair and equal treatment of potential beneficiaries as well as safeguarding an efficient management of the action, the application for grants will be open throughout the period 2022-2024. The applications will be examined and evaluated based on a “first in first out” criterion.
At the EU Industry Days (8-11 February 2022) a special session will be dedicated to the SME Fund allowing SMEs to ask questions from the experts managing the SME Fund and receiving a practical guide on how to apply for the different services. The special session is scheduled for 11 February 2022 (12:45-13:30). It can be followed remotely by subscribing to the EU Industry Days.
Please find the press release of the SME Fund and further relevant information under the following link
