Great news for small and medium-sized enterprises based in the European Union! The SME Fund programme Ideas Powered for Business returns in 2025, offering financial support for the protection of intellectual property rights. This year, 18 million EUR has been provided for this purpose. If you are a small or medium-sized entrepreneur and want to effectively protect your trademarks, designs or patents, this is a great opportunity.

1. Deadline for applications

The SME Fund will be active from February 3rd, 2025 to December 5th, 2025. However, as the amount of grant funds is limited, the order of applications will be decisive.

Last year, more than 31,000 entrepreneurs benefited from the grants, including many of Żuraw & Partners Clients. We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity and protect your intellectual property rights with the support of the SME Fund.

2. What can you receive?

The SME Fund programme allows for the reimbursement of costs related to the protection of intellectual property in the following areas:

Trademarks and designs

• 75 % reimbursement of costs for an EU trade mark or design application;
• 75 % reimbursement of costs for a national trade mark or design application;
• 50 % reimbursement of the costs of the basic fees for an application for a trade mark or design, the fees for a designation and subsequent designation outside the EU;

– Maximum reimbursement is 700 EUR.

Patents

• 75% reimbursement for the „Prior Art Search Report”;
• 75% reimbursement of costs for the pre-grant stage;
• 75% reimbursement of application and search costs for European patents filed at the European Patent Office (EPO);
• 50% reimbursement of legal costs for drafting and filing a European patent application, if the relevant conditions are met;

– Maximum reimbursement is 3,500 EUR.

Community plant variety

• 75% reimbursement of costs for the online application and examination at EU level;

– Maximum reimbursement is 1,500 EUR.

3. How to apply?

Detailed information on the programme and the application procedure can be found on the EUIPO website: https://www.euipo.europa.eu/en/help-centre/websites/faq-sme-fund-2025.

EUIPO is also organising a free webinar to explain the application process in detail. The webinar will take place on 18.02.2025 on the Zoom (registration link: https://euipo-vitelsa-es.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Un60APn2QNONB0H5tA-7MA#/registration).

Don’t miss this opportunity – protect your intellectual property rights and take advantage of the funds available.