EU funds for trademark registration and other IP rights — SME Fund 2026

How it works

The steps are simple:

• Applicants submit their application
• They receive the voucher
• They protect their intellectual property rights
• After paying the fees, they recover a portion of the costs — without having to wait for the registration to be granted

Available vouchers

• Up to EUR 700 for trademarks and industrial designs/models
• Up to EUR 1,000 for national patents
• Up to EUR 2,500 for European patents

Reimbursement ranges between 50% and 90% of costs, depending on the type of right being protected.

Who can apply

For trademarks and industrial designs/models, eligible SMEs from the EU or Ukraine can receive 75% reimbursement of official fees (filing, class, examination, publication, etc.). NGOs can also apply, subject to a few additional conditions.

What you need to know

• Vouchers have limited validity and must be activated and reimbursed within the established deadlines, which are quite short
• There are bureaucratic requirements, but nothing insurmountable
• The funds are not retroactive — costs incurred before the date of the grant decision notification are not covered
• In theory, applications are open until December. In practice, funds are exhausted by mid-year

Why it matters

Protecting a trademark or patent is not just a formality — it is an investment in the identity and competitive advantage of your business. SME Fund 2026 significantly lowers the financial barrier, offering SMEs the possibility of securing their intellectual property rights at a fraction of the cost.