EU funding program "SME Fund 2025"
06.02.2025
The SME Fund "Ideas Powered for business" is a grant program designed to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the EU and Ukraine to protect their intellectual property rights.
The SME Fund is a European Commission initiative implemented by the EUIPO - European Union Intellectual Property Office and will run from February 3, 2025 until December 5, 2025. The SME Fund is now open to help businesses like yours! Save money and protect your intellectual property rights at the same time!
- Voucher 1: IP scan
It is used to develop a customized IP strategy for SMEs. The Patent Center Bavaria is the only accredited service provider in Bavaria for the IP scan. Here, 90% of the costs are reimbursed (max. 1,350 euros).
- Voucher 2: Promotion of trademark and/or design applications
It is used to subsidize the official fees for trademark and/or design applications. Up to 75% of the costs are reimbursed (max. 700 euros).
- Voucher 3: Support for national patent applications
Here, 75% of the costs for a prior art search carried out by the national intellectual property offices of the EU member states or accredited partners are reimbursed, as well as 75% of the application and examination fees at the national office (max. 1,000 euros).
- Voucher 4: Support for European patent applications
The application and search fees for a patent application before the European Patent Office can be reimbursed on a pro rata basis. 75% of the costs are reimbursed (however, max. 1,000 euros). Likewise, 50% of the legal costs for preparing and filing a European patent application are reimbursed under this voucher (max. EUR 1,500).
| Activities | Feereimbursement |
| Preliminary diagnosis of intellectual property rights (IP scan) | 90% |
| Trademark and design fees at EU level | 75% |
| Trademark and design fees at national level | 75% |
| Trademark and design fees outside the EU | 50% |
| Prior art patent search | 75% |
| Official fees patent application in Germany (application, search and examination) | 75% |
| Official fees for patent application in Europe (application, search and examination) | 75% |
| Legal fees for the preparation and filing of European patent applications with a maximum amount of EUR 2,000 | 50% |
