In the development of any business today, it is essential to incorporate an appropriate strategy for protecting a company’s intangible assets into its strategic plan. This not only provides protection in the marketplace against potential attempts by third parties to copy the company’s assets but also facilitates access to financing from investment funds that may be interested in investing in a particular project.
Intangible assets are protected through the various existing forms of industrial property protection, depending on the nature of the intangible asset to be protected.
In the case of technology, these intangible assets are often protected through the legal mechanisms of patents and utility models (in jurisdictions where the latter exists).
For any company considering a growth strategy and potential international expansion, protecting its technology through patents or utility models is crucial, and obtaining this protection in different jurisdictions requires a significant outlay on official fees payable to the various agencies responsible for processing and granting the corresponding titles.
To facilitate companies’ access to patent and utility model protection and to promote the positioning of Spanish industry in various markets, the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office (OEPM) has once again launched its grant program to facilitate access to protection for technological developments, both in Spain and in other countries.
In Spain, a subsidy program is available for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and individuals, covering up to 90% of the official fees paid to the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office (OEPM) for patent or utility model applications published in the Official Industrial Property Bulletin (BOPI) in any of the years 2020, 2021, or 2022.
For protection outside of Spain, subsidies of up to 80% (up to 90% for small and medium-sized enterprises and individuals) are available for fees paid in 2022 for European patent applications, international patent applications (PCT applications), or direct patent (or utility model) applications filed in other countries with the respective national patent offices.
The deadline for applying for these grants is May 25, 2023.
Applications can be submitted through the OEPM's online portal (https://sede.oepm.gob.es/).
We thank the OEPM for announcing its grant program once again this year, and we wish every success to all patent and utility model holders who wish to participate.
Bosco de la Vega, Patent Practice Associate