SME Fund 2026: EUIPO vouchers for intellectual property.

Protecting ideas pays off. With the SME Fund 2026, EUIPO vouchers are returning to support businesses in costs related to intellectual property protection. Applications can be submitted until December 4, 2026, unless resources are exhausted early.

Registering a trademark, design or patent is a strategic choice for business competitiveness, but filing costs are often an obstacle for small businesses. It is precisely to reduce this economic burden that the 2026 edition of the Ideas Powered for Business – SME Fund program, administered by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), is active, providing grants in the form of reimbursable vouchers.

The total allocation amounts to 25 million euros, intended for SMEs based in the European Union and Ukraine. Funds are allocated in chronological order of application submission, until the ceiling is exhausted.

Available Vouchers and Reimbursements 2026
Three lines of intervention are active for Italian companies (Voucher 1 – IP Scan is currently not available in Italy due to lack of accredited providers):

• Voucher 2: Reimbursement of 75 percent of registration fees for national and European trademarks and designs, up to a maximum of 1,000 euros;

• Voucher 3: Dedicated to patents, with reimbursements of up to 3,500 euros, including filing fees and legal fees for drafting the application;

• Voucher 4: Coverage of examination fees for community plant varieties up to 1,500 euros.

Application procedure and mandatory steps
The procedure involves a mandatory sequence: the voucher must be applied for before the payment of fees. Early payment will result in the loss of the right to reimbursement, which is credited directly to the SME’s bank account.

The steps to follow are:

Registration on the EUIPO portal in the area dedicated to the SME Fund;

• Sending the application indicating the vouchers of interest (trademarks, patents, etc.);

• Receipt of the grant decision and activation of vouchers;

• Legal filing of the trademark or patent and payment of related fees;

• Uploading the payment receipts to the portal to get the reimbursement credited.

Applications can be submitted from Feb. 2, 2026 to Dec. 4, 2026, with possible early closure of the window if funds are exhausted.

Operational details and complete summary of facilities