15.02.2024
GRANT FOR SMES FOR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTION
For the third year in a row, the Patent Office of the Republic of Bulgaria, together with the European Union Office for Intellectual Property, announces the launch of the opportunity to apply for grants under the Fund for Small and Medium Enterprises.
The Ideas Powered for Business SME Fund is a grant scheme that aims to help small and medium-sized businesses in the EU to protect their intellectual property rights. It is an initiative of the European Commission, implemented by the European Union Intellectual Property Office, and covers the period from 22 January 2023 to 6 December 2024.
The Fund offers financial support in the form of Vouchers for SMEs established in the European Union, creating better framework conditions for competitiveness and encouraging entrepreneurship.
In 2024, it will offer the following support:
VOUCHER 1–IP Scan - reimbursement of 90% of the fees charged by Member States for IP Scan services, which provide an overall assessment of the IP needs of the applicant SME, taking into account the innovative potential of its intangible assets.
From 2024, a new service will be launched within Voucher 1 - IP Scan Enforcement - Diagnostics of the enforcement of intellectual property. The new service is aimed at small and medium-sized businesses that allege another party has infringed their intellectual property rights, or SMEs accused of infringing another party's intellectual property rights.
VOUCHER 2 - trade mark and design protection - reimbursement of 75% of the fees collected by intellectual property offices (including national intellectual property offices, the European Union Intellectual Property Office and the Benelux Intellectual Property Office) for the registration of trademarks and designs; reimbursement of 50% of the fees collected by the World Intellectual Property Organization for obtaining international protection of marks and designs;
VOUCHER 3 - for national and European patents - reimbursement of 75% of the fees charged by national patent offices for filing national and European patents and prior art research in 2023; In 2024, for the first time, the possibility of reimbursement of 50% of legal costs for the preparation and filing of a new European patent application is provided, up to a maximum of EUR 2,000.
In order to ensure the smooth running of the reimbursement of the costs of the new activity, the funding is limited to the legal costs of services related to the preparation and filing of European patents which are provided by persons or associations established in the EU and which are entitled to represent applicants in proceedings before the European Patent Office in accordance with the European Patent Convention (EPC).
VOUCHER 4 - for plant varieties - reimbursement of 75% of EU plant variety electronic application fees and Community plant variety examination fee to the Community Plant Variety Office. By providing financial support for plant variety registration, the SME Fund will support SMEs involved in the green and digital transition, while supporting the objectives of the EC Green Deal.
Vouchers have a limited period of use. SMEs are therefore encouraged to apply for a voucher when they plan to carry out one of the eligible activities within the next 2 months.
More information about the vouchers and the application procedure can be found on the page of the European Union Intellectual Property Office Call for proposals and in the frequently asked questions section.
