The SME Fund 2024 has just opened, allowing small and medium-sized enterprises based in the European Union to access refunds directly to their bank accounts, covering up to 75% of deposit fees for trademarks, designs, patents, and plant varieties.
Who can participate:
The fund is dedicated to micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises that meet at least two of the following three criteria:
Business Category | Number of Employees | Annual Turnover | Total Annual Budget |
---|---|---|---|
Medium | < 250 | ≤ EUR 50 million | ≤ EUR 43 million |
Small | < 50 | ≤ EUR 10 million | ≤ EUR 10 million |
Micro | < 10 | ≤ EUR 2 million | ≤ EUR 2 million |
Individual businesses and freelancers with VAT registration can also participate.
Refund amounts:
Trademarks and Designs:
– 75% refund of fees for EU-level trademarks, designs, and models.
– 75% refund of fees for national and regional trademarks, designs, and models.
– 50% refund of fees for trademarks, designs, and models outside the EU.
Maximum refund amount: Euro 1,000.00
Patents:
– 75% refund of fees for pre-grant patents (filing, search, and examination), grant, and publication for national protection in a EU member state.
– 75% refund of fees for filing and search of European patents at the EPO. Other fees related to a European patent are excluded.
– 50% refund of expenses for drafting and filing European patent applications.
Maximum refund amount: Euro 3,500.00 (Euro 2,000.00 for drafting and filing European patent applications)
Community Plant Variety:
– 75% refund on online application fees and examination fees at the EU level.
Maximum refund amount: Euro 1,500.00
It is important to note that only activities carried out after accessing the fund are refundable. Fees related to already deposited and/or granted titles are not eligible for reimbursement.
How to access:
If interested, please contact us via email at info@pga-ip.com. We will assess your eligibility for access and assist you in the voucher request procedure.