This year, the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) has once again launched a grant programme to support intellectual property rights for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) – The Ideas Powered for Business SME Fund.
All Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) established in the EU are eligible to apply for a grant. Owners, members of the entity's governing bodies authorized to represent it, authorized employees, or external representatives can apply. A representative is defined as a third party, natural or legal, duly authorized by the SME to legally represent it. If a company applying to the SME Fund uses the services of an external representative, a "declaration of honor," duly signed by both parties, must be submitted when completing the online application form. All grant reimbursements are paid directly into the SME's bank account specified in the application.
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 | Company Category | 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 |
Self-employed individuals are also eligible to apply for funding from the SME Fund. To do so, they must provide proof of their business activity. This proof may take the form of an official certificate issued by the relevant national authority demonstrating their connection to the business activity they are conducting. This document is necessary to prove that the applicant has legitimate economic ties to the business activity.
Foundations, associations, and universities cannot apply for a grant from the SME Fund unless they are conducting business activities. To be eligible for a grant from the SME Fund, an SME must be conducting a business activity, regardless of its legal form. Therefore, it must be engaged in any form of trade or activity conducted for remuneration or profit on the market. Furthermore, an enterprise cannot be classified as an SME if 25% or more of its capital or voting rights are directly or indirectly controlled, jointly or individually, by one or more public bodies.
The above conditions mean that, in reality, most entrepreneurs from the European Union can apply for funding. Properly completing the application and submitting all necessary documents will allow any SME to successfully obtain funding, except for a small group of excluded entities. However, it is important to remember that the number of funds allocated for funding is limited.
This alert is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
Legal status as of January 23, 2025
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