The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and the European Commission (EC), with the aim of boosting the competitiveness of SMEs in the current context of the COVID-19 pandemic, have created the Ideas Powered for Business Fund. This is a grant program with a budget of up to 20 million euros, created to help SMEs obtain and develop their intellectual property rights.
This program will provide coverage at the national level (national offices), the regional level (Benelux Office), and the EU level (EUIPO).
Purpose of the grants:
The SME fund will co-finance two types of services:
- Intellectual Property Pre-Assessment Service (known as “IP Scan”)
- Basic Application Fees for Trademarks and Designs.
Amount of the grants:
The maximum grant amount will be 1,500 euros per SME, and the co-financing percentages will be as follows:
| Type of action | Service Limits for SMEs | Co-financing Limit per Action | Maximum Grant Per SME |
| Service 1: Pre-diagnostic Service for IP | 1 pre-diagnostic service for IP | 75 % | 1.500 EUR |
| Service 2: DPI | 1 application for one or more trademarks and designs | 50 % |
Deadlines for submitting grant applications: The call for proposals will be open during different application periods, with the provisional schedule as follows:
| Deadline 1 | Deadline 2 | Deadline 3 | Round 4 | Deadline 5 | |
| Budget Available by Term | 4.000.000 | 4.000.000 | 4.000.000 | 4.000.000 | 4.000.000 |
| Start of the application period | January 11, 2021 | March 1, 2021 | May 1, 2021 | July 1, 2021 | September 1, 2021 |
| Deadline for submitting applications | January 31, 2021 | March 31, 2021 | May 31, 2021 | July 31, 2021 | September 30, 2021 |
| Applicants will receive written notification of the results and notification of grant decisions if awarded a grant | Feb. – Mar. 2021 | Apr. – May 2021 | June–July 2021 | Aug. – Sept. 2021 | Oct. – Nov. 2021 |
Applications received first will be given priority for the awarding of grants.
Eligible Recipients: To be eligible, applicants must be small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as defined in EU Recommendation 2003/361, established in EU Member States.
Application Process: There are 3 steps to follow to complete the application:
- Submit the online application form along with the required documentation to verify your SME status and determine whether your application can proceed. You will receive an email acknowledging receipt of your application. If the application is approved, you will receive a favorable grant decision signed by the Office. Unsuccessful applicants will be informed of the reasons for the denial.
- Submit your application and pay for your IP pre-screening service (IP scan) or for the registration of a trademark, design, or model within 30 days of receiving the grant award decision. Trademarks, designs, and models may be applied for at one of the national offices, at the Benelux Office for Intellectual Property, or at the EUIPO.
- Finally, once the SME has paid for the services (IP Scan or trademark, design, or model application), it submits its reimbursement request using the link provided in the grant award decision.
Once submitted, you will receive an email confirming receipt of the payment request. The payment, subject to approval of the information and documentation submitted, will be made within one month, and beneficiaries will receive the corresponding notification by email.
This aid is incompatible with any other aid that may have been requested at the national or EU level for the same purpose.
Author: Manuel Mínguez
Find information about this and other grants on our website.