In 2026, the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) will launch a new edition of the SME Fund – Ideas Powered for Business, a grant program aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises that wish to protect their industrial property assets and reduce the costs associated with registering trademarks, patents, designs, and plant varieties, as well as with strategic analysis through IP Scan services.
Following the positive response to the previous call for proposals, the SME Fund has established itself as a key tool for SMEs and startups seeking to strengthen their competitiveness by protecting their intangible assets.
Who is eligible to apply for grants from the SME Fund 2026?
The SME Fund 2026 is intended for SMEs established in the European Union that meet the European Commission's definition:
- Fewer than 250 employees, and
- Annual revenue of 50 million euros or less, or an annual balance sheet total of 43 million euros or less.
The following individuals are also eligible for this assistance:
- Self-employed individuals, provided they can document their economic activity.
- Foundations, when less than 25% of their capital is held by public entities.
What types of financial assistance does the SME Fund 2026 offer? Amounts, percentages, and eligible expenses
The 2026 call for proposals is structured around four vouchers:
Voucher 1 – IP Scan: Diagnosis and Enforcement in Industrial Property
Eligible services:
- IP Scan (Preliminary Industrial Property Assessment): a strategic analysis of the company's IP assets and recommendations for their protection.
- IP Scan Enforcement: Expert advice on situations involving potential infringement of industrial property rights.
Coverage:
- Reimbursement percentage: 90%
- Maximum amount: €1,620
Voucher 2 – Grants for Trademarks and Designs
This voucher allows you to significantly reduce the costs associated with registering trademarks and industrial designs.
Maximum amount: Up to 700 €
National, regional, and European Union coverage
- Trademark and design fees for obtaining protection, including:
- Application
- Classes
- Exam
- Registration
- Publication
- Postponement of publication, when appropriate
- Reimbursement percentage: 75%
International Coverage
- International trademark and design fees in accordance with:
- Madrid System (trademarks)
- The Hague System (designs)
- Includes base fees, designation fees, and subsequent designations.
- Reimbursement percentage: 50%
Voucher 3 – Grants for Patent Registration in 2026
The SME Fund 2026 continues to strongly support the protection of technological innovation, covering both official fees and certain legal costs.
National Patents
- State-of-the-art search reports.
- Official fees for national patent applications.
- Reimbursement percentage: 75%
- Maximum amount: €1,000
European Patents
- Filing and search fees at the European Patent Office (EPO).
- Reimbursement percentage: 75%
- Maximum amount: €1,000
Legal Costs
- Drafting and filing of European patent applications by professional representatives before the EPO.
- Reimbursement percentage: 50%
- Maximum amount: €1,500
Maximum total amount for European patents and legal fees: €2,500
Voucher 4 – Subsidies for Plant Varieties
Maximum amount: Up to €1,500
Eligible Expenses
- Online application fees.
- Examination fees for the Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO).
Reimbursement percentage: 75%
What expenses are not covered by the SME Fund 2026?
It is important to note that these grants:
- They do not cover renewals of industrial property rights.
- They are not retroactive: only expenses incurred after the grant was awarded will be reimbursed.
- They do not subsidize expenses not directly related to registration or to the IP services specified in the call for proposals.
The Impact of the SME Fund 2025: A Call for Proposals with Very Solid Results
The call for applications for the SME Fund 2025 confirmed the practical value of this program as a tool to support SMEs in the area of industrial property. The response was significant, with more than 35,800 applications submitted by more than 34,000 SMEs across the European Union.
The fund provided financing for more than 31,000 industrial property activities, benefiting more than 25,000 companies, and reached a budget execution of 14.7 million euros.
In this context, the SME Fund served as a facilitator for many small and medium-sized enterprises and enabled approximately 77% of the beneficiary companies to obtain protection for their industrial property rights for the first time, thereby initiating the formal protection of trademarks, patents, designs, and plant varieties.
This was complemented by efficient processing, with an average turnaround time of about 8 business days and payments made in about 28 days—a key factor in planning investments in innovation and branding.
SME Fund 2026 Application Deadline
The call for proposals for the SME Fund 2026 opens on February 2, 2026.
Given how the call for proposals will operate in 2025, it is expected that in 2026 the application period will remain open until funds are exhausted and that grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, although this criterion will need to be confirmed when the official call for proposals is published. It is also advisable to prepare the application in advance, since a significant portion of the funding is typically committed in the first few weeks (especially the portion allocated to patents and plant varieties).
Specialized Consulting on EUIPO Grants
At Elzaburu, we advise small and medium-sized businesses, startups, and innovative companies on planning, applying for, and managing grants from the SME Fund, as well as on the subsequent processing of trademarks, patents, designs and plant varieties.
If you'd like to explore how the SME Fund 2026 fits into your intellectual property strategy, our team is here to help you make the most of this call for proposals.