SME Fund 2024: applications open for IP support

The applications are being made as part of the new edition of the European Union Fund to support the protection of the intellectual property rights of small and medium-sized enterprises based in the European Union and Ukraine.
Articles 23/01/2024

The new, larger edition of the European Union Fund to support the protection of intellectual property rights of small and medium-sized enterprises based in both the European Union and Ukraine, an initiative of the European Commission and administered by the EUIPO – European Union Intellectual Property Office, are open for applications since 22 January 2024. The application submission deadline is December 6, 2024, without prejudice to the budget being exhausted earlier.

The support provided by the EU Fund consists of vouchers for the partial reimbursement of fees for the protection of intellectual property rights, as a way for SMEs, which represent 99 per cent of companies and are responsible for around three-quarters of employment in the EU, to protect their intangible assets, attract investment and expand. 

The 2024 edition has the same type of support as previous editions and the possibility of reimbursing legal costs for drafting and registering European Patents and IP Scan Enforcement (in countries with participating Offices).  

The estimated budget 2024 will be 18.85 million euros for vouchers one and two (IP Scan and trademark and design protection) and 1.15 million euros for vouchers three and four (patents and plant varieties). 

SMEs can apply for each of the following reimbursement vouchers:

  • Voucher 1: IP Scan and IP Scan Enforcement at the national level (90% reimbursement of costs);
  • Voucher 2: Trademark and Design Protection at national, regional and European Union level (75% reimbursement of fees) and international trademark or design protection (50% reimbursement of fees);
  • Voucher 3: Patent protection at the national level (75% reimbursement of fees); Filing and Search fees at the European level (75% reimbursement); and Legal costs for European Patent application drafting & filing (up to a maximum of 50% reimbursement or €2,000 if a professional representative submits the European Patent Office list);
  • Voucher 4: Protection of Plant Varieties at the European Union level (75% reimbursement of fees).

The new edition of this European Union fund is expected to be a great success as in previous editions.


The content of this information does not constitute any specific legal advice; the latter can only be given when faced with a specific case. Please contact us for any further clarification or information deemed necessary in what concerns the application of the law.

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Practice Areas

  • Intellectual Property

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