The call for applications to the
SME Fund 2023 is
open until 8 December 2023. The Fund is a grant scheme designed to offer financial support to EU SMEs to protect their IPRs. The Fund is a European Commission initiative implemented by the EUIPO in collaboration with European national and regional IP Offices.
Applications can be submitted for
Voucher 1 IP pre-diagnostic services (IP Scan) and
Voucher 2 Trade Marks and Designs. In the SME Fund 2022 these both fell under Voucher 1.
- Beneficiaries of
Voucher 1 will get
90% off
IP Scan services on expert advice and guidance for IP strategy, saving up to EUR 1.350;
- Beneficiaries of
Voucher 2 will get
75% off the
basic application fees for trade mark and design at EU level, national and regional level, and
50% off the basic application fees for trade mark and design outside the EU, saving up to EUR 1.000.
Full information about the requirements and how to apply for financing support can be consulted
here. Funds are offered on a first come, first served basis.
To follow the SME fund 2023 related news, you can subscribe to the
newsletter.
----
Following the special focus on SMEs by the European Commission and the EUIPO, ECTA established the
ECTA SME Task Force in 2021 to assist our Association in taking active part in the EU debate and activities related to SMEs. ECTA aims to contribute to more and better use of IP by SMEs as well as to highlight the relevant role of IP practitioners in bringing this about.
If you wish to join the SME Task Force or another ECTA Committee,
General Committee Elections are ongoing: submit your application here.