EUIPO SME Fund 2026 – vouchers for patents, plant varieties and geographical indications

In plain words

The EU refunds part of the fees to protect an invention or a plant variety: up to €2,500 for a patent, up to €1,500 for a plant variety, and up to €2,000 for a geographical indication for craft or industrial products. The application is simple and online. Note: trade mark and design vouchers are used up for 2026, and the rest are first come, first served.

Who can apply

Small and medium-sized businesses based in the EU, including the self-employed. The owner, an employee or an authorised representative can apply.

What it pays for

Voucher 3 – Patents: 75% of filing and search fees (national or European patent) up to €1,000, and 50% of attorney fees for a European patent up to €1,500. Voucher 4 – Community plant varieties: 75% of fees up to €1,500. Voucher for craft and industrial geographical indications: 50% up to €2,000. Vouchers 1 (IP Scan) and 2 (trade marks and designs) are used up.

What must be true for you

Tick what applies. Saved on this device only.

• An SME under the EU definition (fewer than 250 staff, turnover up to €50M or balance sheet up to €43M); self-employed people upload their registration certificate with tax number.
• VAT or registration certificate and a bank statement with IBAN/BIC in the business's name.
• Apply for the patent voucher before filing the patent or requesting a search.
• One application per voucher type per year; the voucher must be activated within 1 month (extendable by 1 month) or it is lost.

How to apply

1. Go to the EUIPO SME Fund 2026 page and create a EUIPO user account.
2. Complete your profile and create your business under 'My SME', uploading the VAT/registration certificate and bank statement as PDF.
3. Choose a voucher (e.g. patents) and submit the application; you get an answer within 15 working days.
4. File the patent application (e.g. at the Greek Industrial Property Organisation OBI or the European Patent Office) and pay the fees.
5. Request reimbursement from your SME Fund account with the invoices; EUIPO pays within 1 month.

Where to apply: EUIPO SME Fund (EUIPO user account) – euipo.europa.eu/en/sme-corner/sme-fund/2026/ho…

Deadline

Apply by 4 December 2026 or until each voucher's money runs out, first come first served. The trade mark/design and IP Scan vouchers are already used up for 2026.

See also

• Creative Europe MEDIA – TV and online content (production)116 days left · EU-wide
• Creative Europe MEDIA – European Slate Development45 days left · EU-wide
• Creative Europe MEDIA – Video games and immersive content development108 days left · EU-wide
• European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs) in Greece – free or discounted digital servicesapply any time · EU-wide