The European Union Fund for supporting the protection of Industrial Property (IP) Rights for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) is now accepting applications for the 2025 edition.
This program, promoted in Portugal by the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI), aims to provide partial reimbursement of expenses related to the protection of intellectual property, a crucial area for the growth and competitiveness of SMEs.
Companies can now apply for a grant to cover the costs of IP pre-diagnosis services, such as IP Scan and IP Scan Enforcement, as well as for the registration of trademarks and designs, patents, and plant varieties, both at national and international levels.
Among the reimbursable amounts, the following are highlighted:
- IP pre-diagnosis services (IP Scan) and IP Scan Enforcement Services: up to €810 (in Portugal)
- Trademarks and designs (national, regional, and EU levels, and outside the EU): up to €700 (at national, regional, EU, and non-EU levels)
- National patents: up to €1,000
- European patents and costs related to drafting and submitting European patent applications: up to €2,500
- Community plant variety protection: up to €1,500
Applications are open until December 5, 2025, or until funds are exhausted. Last year, more than 31,000 SMEs from the European Union participated in this initiative, with around 1,000 applications submitted in Portugal, mostly from micro-enterprises.
To support companies in using this fund, the EUIPO (European Union Intellectual Property Office) will organize a free webinar on February 18 to present the key points of the 2025 edition of the program. Registration for this event is already open and can be done online.
This fund represents a significant opportunity for SMEs to protect their intellectual property assets, an essential step to strengthen their market position and foster innovation.
For more information, interested companies can consult the official INPI website or access the application portal.
