ALICANTE - As preparations advance for the launch of the SME Fund 2026, the program has reached a significant milestone: the 100,000th SME has received reimbursement for its intellectual property (IP) costs, a press release stated by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO).

This brings the total reimbursement to European SMEs so far to almost €65 million.

Since its inception in 2021, the SME Fund has played a key role in helping small and medium-sized enterprises across the European Union protect and manage their IP assets. Almost 80% of all SME Fund applicants are new to IP and are registering IP rights for the very first time.

In 2025 alone, the SME Fund supported over 33,000 SMEs across the EU, granting a total of almost €13 million to help businesses protect their trademarks, designs, patents, plant varieties, and to develop their IP strategies.

These figures clearly demonstrate the SME Fund’s role in raising awareness on IP and integrating IP protection into the business strategies of European SMEs.

SME Fund 2026: Continuing Support for SMEs
The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), with the support of the European Commission and the Member State Intellectual Property Offices (MS IP Offices), will launch a new SME Fund scheme in 2026, reaffirming our commitment to supporting SMEs in safeguarding and leveraging their IP rights.

The SME Fund 2026 will be launched on 2 February and will continue to use the successful voucher-based reimbursement model, enabling SMEs to recover part of their IP-related costs.

• Voucher 1: IP Scan and IP Scan Enforcement. 90% reimbursement
• Voucher 2: Trademarks and designs. Up to 75% reimbursement
• Voucher 3: Patents. Up to 75% reimbursement
• Voucher 4: Community Plant Varieties. 75% reimbursement

In addition, a new voucher is planned for later in the year:

• Voucher 5: Craft and Industrial Geographical Indications (CIGIs)

Growing Collaboration with IP Representatives

53% of SME Fund applications came from IP representatives in 2025, a proportion that has been rising year after year. The EUIPO extends its sincere thanks to IP representatives for their essential role in broadening the reach of the SME Fund and ensuring that applicants benefit from qualified guidance throughout the application process.