Pro­tect your in­tel­lec­tual pro­per­ty: SME Fund open for grant applica­tions again from Fe­brua­ry 2026

Small and medium-sized companies have also in 2026 the opportunity to receive financial support to protect and gain greater control over their intellectual property under the Ideas Powered for Business SME Fund grant programme. The support is granted by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO).

What is the support granted for?

Support is granted for the following:

  • IP pre-diagnostic service (IP Scan)
  • Charges paid to a public authority when applying for a trademark or a design right
  • Charges paid to a public authority when applying for a patent, patent novelty searches carried out by public authorities, and patent applications filed with the European Patent Office (EPO)
  • Registration of an EU Community Plant Variety Right

Read more about the IP pre-diagnostic service (IP Scan).

Please note that the applicant must have received an affirmative decision on granted support (a voucher) before paying any application and service fees.

Further information and application instructions will be available on the EUIPO website as of 2 February 2026.Avautuu uuteen välilehteen

Where and when to apply for the support?

Send your application to the EUIPO SME Fund.

The application period begins on Monday 2 February 2026.

How much support is available?

The amount of support depends on the applications your company has filed and the services it has ordered. The support is disbursed retrospectively for the fees your company has paid. The amount paid out varies according to what the support is granted for (50–90%).

Maximum amounts of SME Fund support:

  • IP pre-diagnostic service (IP Scan): EUR 1,530
  • Charges paid to a public authority when applying for a trademark or a design right: EUR 700
  • Charges paid to a public authority when applying for a patent, and patent novelty searches carried out by public authorities: a total of EUR 1,000 as well as charges for preparing patent applications filed with the European Patent Office (EPO): EUR 2,500
  • Registration application of the EU Community Plant Variety Right and the examination fee for it: a total of EUR 1,500

More information on the SME Fund is available on the EUIPO website.Avautuu uuteen välilehteen


For further information, please contact
Olli Ilmarinen
Development Specialist
Finnish Patent and Registration Office
Tel. +358 29 509 5236

Tuulimarja Myllymäki
Head Legal Adviser
Finnish Patent and Registration Office
Tel. +358 29 509 5399


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