EUIPO SME Fund Reopens Trade Mark and Design Vouchers

The Polish Patent Office announced on 5 November that the EUIPO is again accepting applications for Vouchers 1 and 2 of the SME Fund, through the EUIPO platform from that day. Voucher 1 covers IP Scan services; Voucher 2 covers trade mark and design applications. The notice does not say how much funding the reopening makes available.

Under the EUIPO's published rules, the 2026 SME Fund runs until 4 December and is open to small and medium-sized enterprises established in the EU and Ukraine. A business owner, an employee or an authorised representative may apply.

Depending on the country or region, up to 75 per cent of IP application fees and up to 90 per cent of an IP Scan can be reimbursed. Applicants need a VAT certificate and a company bank statement, plus a signed SME declaration where a representative files.

Once the voucher is granted

• The grant award and vouchers can take up to 15 working days to arrive.
• Voucher 2 must be activated within one month of the grant award, extendable by one more month; Voucher 1 allows six months.
• A voucher is activated by requesting and paying for the IP services, then filing the reimbursement form in the SME Fund account. The EUIPO pays within one month.
• A voucher that expires unused cannot be replaced by a new one of the same type that year.

J&C recommends that SMEs established in the EU or Ukraine and planning EU or national trade mark or design filings before 4 December secure Voucher 2 before paying the filing fees, and plan around its one-month activation period.

Source: uprp.gov.pl | www.euipo.europa.eu | www.euipo.europa.eu