Overview of the SME Fund 2026
Since its launch in 2021, the SME Fund has become an important instrument for supporting small and medium-sized enterprises across the European Union in protecting and managing their intellectual property. Nearly 80% of applicants are first-time IP users, registering intellectual property rights for the first time.
In 2025 alone, more than 33,000 EU-based SMEs benefited from the fund, receiving close to €13 million in financial support to safeguard their trademarks, designs, patents, plant varieties, and to strengthen their IP strategies.
As of 2 February, the SME Fund 2026 is open for applications, enabling SMEs to recover part of their IP-related costs. The support is extended to a variety of IP activities, including:
90% reimbursement for IP Scan and Enforcement: An IP pre-diagnostic service provided by EU national IP offices and services related to the enforcement of IP rights through national IP offices.
75% reimbursement for trademark and design protection: For national, regional, and EU-level trademark and design applications.
75% reimbursement for patent protection: For various services related to patent applications and prior art searches.
75% reimbursement for community plant variety rights: For applications related to plant varieties at the EU level.
Who can apply?
The SME Fund 2026 is open to all small and medium-sized enterprises established in the European Union. Applications can be made by the business owner, authorized employees, or external representatives.
When can you apply?
Applications for the SME Fund 2026 are open from 2 February 2026 to 4 December 2026. However, it’s important to act quickly as funds are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Once the funds are exhausted, applications will be closed, and an informative notice will be posted on the SME Fund website.
How much can you receive?
The maximum reimbursement amounts available under the SME Fund 2026 are as follows:
IP Scan: Up to EUR 1,620 (depending on the country)
Trademark & Design: Up to EUR 700
Patent: Up to EUR 3,500
National Patents and Prior Art Searches: EUR 1,000
European Patents and Legal Costs: EUR 2,500
Community Plant Variety: Up to EUR 1,500
Reimbursement is made directly to the SME’s bank account, ensuring a simple and efficient process.
Application process overview
Trama offers a simplified trademark registration process alongside EUIPO grant application tailored specifically to your business needs. Here's an overview of how it works:
Start with a free lawyer's check
Indicate your interest in EUIPO grant as part of the verification form, acknowledging the eligibility criteria
Review the result of the lawyer's check, complete the order form and checkout (paying full registration fees)
Our representative will contact you about further documents required to process EUIPO grant application (bank statement, VAT registration)
Additional payment of 100 Euro to process EUIPO grant application will be required at this point
Trama submits EUIPO grant, the result of which is available within 2 weeks
Trama submits your trademark application and we request reimbursement from EUIPO based on the grant application
Reimbursement based on the EUIPO grant is sent directly to your account and trademark application is evaluated and eventually registered (~3 months)
Trama has already registered over 30,000 trademarks, providing professional end-to-end service to cover all your trademark needs. Our team of expert trademark attorneys will maximise the chances of a successful trademark application and ensure a smooth registration process. Start with a free verification of availability and registrability, the result of which will be available in 24 hours.
