New budget for trademark registration: € 17 million SME Fund
- Are you an EU micro, small or medium-sized enterprise?
- Do you use a logo to identify your services or goods in your business?
- Would you like to protect this logo, e.g. by registering it as a trademark, but there are always more important expenses?
If your answers to the above questions are 3xYES, we have good news for you: On 3 February 2025, a new edition of “The Ideas Powered for Business SME Fund” was launched. This means that you can be reimbursed 75% of the administrative charges (up to €700) paid for registering your logo as a trademark.
How do I apply for funding?
The process of applying for the funds is very simple – just complete and submit an application via the dedicated EUIPO platform. An individual SME Fund account must first be opened on the EUIPO website.
Are any documents required?
Yes. The application for funding must be accompanied by:
- a statement from the applicant’s corporate bank account with details such as: company name of the account holder, IBAN number, BIC/SWIFT code, name of the bank where the account is held;
- a certificate confirming the applicant’s status as a VAT payer or a certificate of assignment of a tax identification number (NIP).
When to apply?
Applications for funding can be submitted from 3 February 2025 to 5 December 2025. They will be processed until the budget, which this year is €17 million, is exhausted. Last year there was so much interest that the budget was exhausted by mid-year. It is not advisable to wait until the last minute.
What do I do once I have been awarded funding?
If your application for funding is approved (EUIPO usually takes about 15 days to process an application), you will receive the funding in the form of a voucher. You have one month to use the voucher (with the option to extend it for another month). You should therefore register your logo as a trade mark with the trade mark authority of your choice as soon as possible after receiving the voucher. You should pay for the registration yourself.
How do I get a refund of the fees paid for the trade mark registration?
Once the trade mark application has been filed and paid for, you need to request a refund using the form available on your individual SME Fund account. Reimbursement should be made within 1 month to the bank account indicated in the application for funding.
Can I apply for funding with the help of an attorney?
Yes – both the application for funding and the application for reimbursement of trade mark registration costs can be submitted by a legal representative. In this case, the application should be accompanied by a document called a ‘Declaration of Honour’, which is a form of power of attorney granted to us.
What happens next?
We wait for the trade mark to be registered. This usually takes about 3 months after publication by the authority (unless someone – usually a competitor – objects to the registration in the meantime). Unfortunately, if the trade mark is not registered, the registration fee is non-refundable. In this context, it is advisable to analyse possible obstacles before applying for a trade mark registration (we will be happy to do this for you).
What are the benefits of participating in the SME Fund program?
There are many benefits to participating in the SME Fund programme. First and foremost, you will receive logo protection for a period of 10 years and you will also save €700.
If you have any questions or need assistance with completing the application, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our experts will be happy to provide you with detailed information.
KONTAKT
E: marcin.matyka@pl.Andersen.com
T: +48 22 690 08 60
M: +48 669 768 444
E: adriana.wydzialkiewicz@pl.Andersen.com
T: +48 32 731 68 50