The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) has announced the launch of the call for applications for reimbursement vouchers for intellectual property protection under the SME Fund 2026 programme.
This is application window for financial support this year from February 2, 2026. The program is aimed at micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises from European Union member states that are active VAT payers.
The SME Fund will operate until funds are exhausted, as the number of funds is limited, and funds will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
Benefits of registering intellectual property rights
Registering intellectual property rights allows us to prevent others, especially competing businesses, from using our products or ideas without permission.
Entities eligible for funding
Only entities established in a European Union Member State and belonging to the category of small and medium-sized enterprises as defined in the table below are eligible to benefit from the funding:
| Company Category | Number of employees | Annual turnover | Total assets |
| Medium-sized enterprise | <250 | ≤ 50 million EUR | ≤ 43 million EUR |
| Small enterprise | <50 | ≤ 10 million EUR | ≤ 10 million EUR |
| Micro enterprise | <10 | ≤ 2 million EUR | ≤ 2 million EUR |
What activities can be funded?
The SME Fund programme provides up to EUR 700 for the registration of new trademarks and industrial designs:
- 75% refund of application fees under the national procedure in EU member states (application to the Polish Patent Office and other offices of EU member states).
- 75% refund of application fees within the EU (applications to the European Union Intellectual Property Office – EUIPO) and at regional level (e.g. Benelux Intellectual Property Office).
- 50% refund of filing fees with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
How to obtain funding
Entrepreneurs interested in obtaining funding will first be required to submit a funding application, specifying the activities they wish to finance and attaching the required documents (bank statement, VAT certificate or certificate of national registration number issued by the relevant national authority, and a power of attorney if the SME is represented by a representative). Next, the entrepreneur will need to submit an application for registration of the intellectual property rights for which funding is sought. After registering the selected intellectual property rights, the entrepreneur will be required to submit a claim for reimbursement of incurred costs. Importantly, the entrepreneur will be required to cover official fees from their own funds and only then recover the incurred costs.
Assistance in obtaining funding
In previous editions, Graś i Wspólnicy Law Firm has helped numerous entities obtain funding for various activities sponsored by this program. Our assistance includes, in particular, determining which activities, from the entrepreneur's perspective, merit funding, as well as preparing the funding application and all necessary documents. Once funding is awarded, the Firm can also submit an application on behalf of the entrepreneur to register the intellectual property rights for which the entrepreneur received funding. At the end of the process, we can also apply for reimbursement of incurred costs on your behalf.
If you are interested, please contact us at the following email address: p.filipek@kglegal.pl.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
The law is current as of January 22, 2026.
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