Today, the Commission and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) launched the new EU SME Fund, which offers vouchers for EU-based SMEs to help them protect their intellectual property (IP) rights. This is the second EU SME Fund aiming at supporting SMEs in the COVID-19 recovery and green and digital transitions for the next three years (2022-2024).

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 trademark 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.).

SMEs need a flexible intellectual property toolbox and quick financing to protect their innovations. Hence, for the first time, the new EU SME Fund is now also covering patents. The Commission's financial contribution, which amounts to €2 million, will be dedicated fully to the patent-related services. For instance, an SME could apply for the reimbursement of the registration fee to patent its invention in a Member State. EUIPO will manage the SME Fund through calls for proposals. The first call is launched today on the EUIPO website.

In order to ensure fair and equal treatment of potential beneficiaries as well as safeguarding 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. SMEs with no experience in the area of intellectual property are encouraged to apply first for an IP Scan service and only subsequently to the other services.

At the EU Industry Days (8-11 February 2022) a special session will be dedicated to the SME Fund allowing SMEs to ask questions of the experts managing the Fund and receive a practical guide on how to apply for the different services. The special session is scheduled for 11 February 2022. It can be followed remotely by subscribing to the EU Industry Days.

Image © European Commission