The basic fee for a European Union trademark application is €850. This represents the minimum amount required for trademark registration in all 27 Member States of the European Union. Typically, this fee must be paid to the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) in full.
However, since 2021, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the European Union can access a grant scheme for intellectual property protection, including trademark registration. This year, SMEs have the opportunity to apply for and receive financial support from 22 January 2024 to 6 December 2024.
According to the programme’s terms, the European Union reimburses 75% of the trademark application fee, up to €1,000. Assuming the basic application fee is €850, a company can recover €637, thereby reducing the overall cost to €213.
Who is eligible?
The grant is open to any SME registered in the European Union, provided they meet two criteria:
The company employs fewer than 250 employees
The company's annual turnover does not exceed €50,000,000 and/or an annual balance sheet total does not exceed €43,000,000
Four steps to securing funding
Register on the EUIPO website, complete and submit the application form for the relevant voucher here.
The EUIPO will assess your application within 15 working days. Upon a positive decision, you will receive a confirmation of the grant via email.
Within two months of receiving the decision, submit your trademark registration application to the EUIPO and pay the application fee.
After paying the application fee, use the electronic payment form available in the users section of the SME Fund account here. Typically, a decision on fund withdrawal is made, and the money is transferred to the company’s specified bank account within 30 days.
Will every applicant receive the grant?
No, funding is available until it is exhausted, awarded on a first-come, first-served basis considering the date and time of application submission. For instance, in 2023, due to high interest and activity, the application for the fund's trademark voucher was closed on November 10.
Can a trademark attorney apply for funding on behalf of SME?
Yes, but the grant will be transferred to the company's bank account and a “declaration on honour” must be signed before submitting the application.