On 25 June 2026, EUIPO said the 2026 SME Fund has moved past its halfway point. Under the first-come, first-served design of the scheme, some funding pots for trade marks and designs have already been exhausted, but vouchers for European and national prior art searches and for IP Scan remain open. For EU SMEs still weighing patent filing routes, that leaves a practical window to recover up to 75% of eligible official fees.
The mid-year picture also says something about priorities. The faster-moving subsidies were quickly absorbed, while the support that helps businesses test freedom to operate, patentability and filing strategy is still available. For companies planning expansion or only now turning R&D into filings, that remaining budget may be more useful than it first appears: it buys time for a better decision, not just a cheaper application.
