EUIPO SME Fund 2026 supports small and medium-sized enterprises in reducing the cost of protecting intellectual property, through reimbursement of eligible fees related to trademarks, designs, patents and other IP rights. The programme is managed by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and applies to companies established in the European Union, including Portugal.
Programme details
Application deadline: 4 December 2026
Beneficiary entities: SMEs, micro-enterprises, startups and individuals
Benefit: Up to 75% reimbursement of eligible intellectual property fees
- Minimum investment: No minimum investment required
Geographic scope: Mainland Portugal, Azores and Madeira
About the funding
The EUIPO SME Fund 2026 is a European grant programme designed to support companies in protecting their intellectual property by reimbursing part of the costs related to registration and legal protection.
The incentive applies to filings made at national, European and international level, including registrations with INPI, EUIPO, EPO and WIPO.
The programme operates through a voucher system. After approval, the applicant proceeds with the intellectual property registration, pays the applicable fees and then requests reimbursement under the approved voucher.
The objective of the fund is to encourage innovation, brand protection and internationalisation by making intellectual property registration more accessible to SMEs.
How it works
Applicants must first submit a request under the SME Fund and wait for approval before proceeding with the registration.
Once the voucher is granted, the company may:
- File trademarks or designs
- Submit patent applications
- Request IP pre-diagnostic services
- Register international intellectual property rights
After the registration fees are paid, the applicant submits a reimbursement request, and the eligible percentage is refunded according to the programme rules.
Only costs incurred after voucher approval are eligible.
Eligible investment expenses
Eligible costs under the EUIPO SME Fund may include:
IP Scan / IP Scan Enforcement
- Pre-diagnostic intellectual property services
- Enforcement support provided by national IP offices
Trade marks and designs (national, EU or regional)
- Application fees
- Class fees
- Examination and registration fees
- Publication fees
- Deferment fees
Trade marks and designs (international)
- WIPO basic fees
- Designation and subsequent designation fees
- Madrid and Hague system fees
National patents and prior-art search
- Filing and examination fees
- Publication fees
- Prior-art search reports
European patents and related legal costs
- EPO filing and search fees
- Drafting and filing costs by qualified representatives
Community plant varieties
- CPVO application and examination fees
All expenses must comply with the rules of the programme and be incurred after the voucher approval.
Who can benefit from this incentive
The SME Fund 2026 is available to:
- Small and medium-sized enterprises
- Micro-enterprises
- Startups
- Individuals carrying out business activity
Applicants must be established in the European Union.
The programme is particularly relevant for companies that:
- Plan to register trademarks or designs
- Develop new products or technologies
- Intend to expand to international markets
- Need to protect intellectual property before commercialisation
Understanding the rules and eligibility criteria of each incentive is essential to assess its relevance and potential impact within a company’s broader investment and tax strategy.
For clarification or further information, reach out through our contact form.
