The Ideas Powered for Business SME Fund is a grant program designed to give EU small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) access to intellectual property rights (IV).

The SME Fund is an initiative of the European Commission implemented by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO).

Funds are limited and are available in the order of application.

Intellectual property protection is essential in the digital age. This is the only legitimate way to avoid copying or using your unique ideas, products or services without permission. Intellectual property protection can cover many different types of assets, including trademarks, designs, patents, corporate identities, products, services and processes.

Financing through the SME Fund will be implemented in the form of vouchers (value coupons) for intellectual property which will co-finance:

VOUCHER 1: activities related to intellectual property (pre - diagnostic services
related to intellectual property (IP Scan), trademark and design protection inside and outside the EU)

VOUCHER 2: activities related to patents.
The total budget available for co-financing the measures is estimated at EUR 16 000 000, subject to the restrictions set out below:

TYPE OF MEASURE                                        BUDGET                        MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF VOUCHERS                       ALLOCATED FUNDS
Voucher 1 - IV-related activities               EUR 15,000,000                                   EUR 1,500                                              Based on the number of participants
Voucher 2 - patents                                          1 000 000 EUR                                      750 EUR                                                Based on the number of participants

The call for proposals will be open in accordance with the provisional timetable set out below:
Proposal submission period From 10.1.2022. - 16.12.2022.
Commencement of the evaluation process of submitted applications Weekly deadline: every Friday
Evaluation and notification of results 10 working days from the deadline

Eligible applicants - small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) established in one of the EU Member States. (defined in accordance with Commission Recommendation 2003/361 / EC of 6 May 2003).

Vouchers are not retroactive, and it is not possible to reimburse expenses for activities carried out before receiving the voucher.

Application

Documentation