SME Fund 2025 – funding for trademark registration for SMEs

11 February 2025 / Articles

Protect your brand and benefit from funding in 2025!

Good news for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)! On 3 February 2025, the next edition of the SME Fund was launched, offering funding for the registration of trademarks at the European Union level. This programme is an excellent opportunity to protect your brand and increase your competitiveness in the European market.

What is SME Fund 2025?

The SME Fund is an initiative of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) that aims to support small and medium-sized enterprises in protecting their intellectual property rights. Under the programme, entrepreneurs can obtain a voucher worth up to 1,000 euros to cover the costs of registering trademarks and industrial designs.

Why is it worth protecting a trademark?

Registering a trademark at the EU level provides a company with a number of benefits, including:

✅ Exclusive right to the brand throughout the European Union,

✅ Protection against unfair competition and counterfeiting,

✅ Increased company value and market recognition,

✅ Secure investment in branding and marketing,

✅ Facilitated acquisition of investors and financing.

Who can benefit from the funding?

The SME Fund 2025 programme is aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) based in the European Union, including:

✔ Natural persons conducting business activities,

✔ Commercial law companies,

✔ Civil law partnerships.

The prerequisite for participation is that the SME criteria are met, i.e. fewer than 250 employees and an annual turnover not exceeding 50 million euros.

How do I get funding from the SME Fund 2025?

To receive funding, you must go through a four-step process:

1. Submission of an application for funding via the EUIPO platform,

2. Receiving a decision on the voucher award,

3. Registering the trademark and paying the fees,

4. Applying for reimbursement of the costs incurred.

The whole process takes about 2 months – from submitting the application to receiving reimbursement.

How much can you get? Amount of funding

Under the SME Fund 2025 programme, entrepreneurs can get:

💰 75% reimbursement of fees for trademark applications at EU or national level,

💰 50% reimbursement of basic fees for international applications,

💰 Maximum funding amount is 1000 euros per SME.

Why is it worth acting quickly?

🕒 The programme’s budget is limited!

Funding is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so it’s a good idea to apply as soon as possible after the programme launches on 3 February 2025.