New EU fund set up to help SME:s protect their IP

On 18 December 2020, the EU launched a fund of EUR 20 million with the purpose of promoting small and medium-sized enterprises (“SME”) based in the European Union to protect their intellectual property (“IP). The fund, which forms part of the European Commission’s new IP Action Plan, is open to all EU companies covered by the official SME definition.

The grants will be made up by reimbursements of up to EUR 1,500 per company for trademark and design application fees in the whole of the EU or in a member state, and/or for IP services offered by national IP offices.

Applications for grants will be open during five application windows. The first application window opens on 11 January 2021 and it is recommended to apply as soon as possible since each application window will close as soon as the available budget is reached.

If you represent an SME hesitating to go forward with protecting your IP, please contact us at Gulliksson for further advise.

See link with more information from the European Union IP Office here.

Emil Ekdahl Norling, Associate