Intellectual property, especially trademarks and designs/registered designs, represents essential assets of a company and is an indispensable part of business success in all industries.
Therefore, the European Commission supports small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in building up appropriate protection portfolios by providing financial assistance for registering relevant intellectual property rights. To this end, the so-called SME fund "Ideas Powered for Business" was also established for 2024. This is a financial aid program for SMEs in the EU, designed to help these companies protect their intellectual property rights.
The SME Fund will be implemented by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) from 22 January 2024 to 6 December 2024.
The SME Fund offers four different vouchers that can be used to claim reimbursement for various costs associated with acquiring intellectual property. The SME Fund is also specifically applicable to the registration of trademarks and designs.
Details regarding the type and scope of funding as well as the requirements can be found here: https://www.euipo.europa.eu/de/discover-ip/sme-fund/overview.
Furthermore, our lawyers are happy to assist you with any questions concerning the protection of your trademarks and designs.