The European Union Intellectual Property Office’s (EUIPO) SME Fund for 2026 – a grant scheme implemented by EUIPO on behalf of the European Commission – has encountered unprecedented demand: vouchers for trademark and design registrations (Voucher 1 and Voucher 2) have already been exhausted due to the exceptionally high volume of applications received.
The programme runs from February 2, 2026, to December 4, 2026, and provides financial support in the form of reimbursement vouchers to small and medium–sized enterprises established in the European Union and Ukraine. The vouchers allow beneficiaries to reclaim up to 75% of the cost of trademark and design applications, and up to 90% of the cost of an IP Scan service.
At present, Voucher 3 (patents) and Voucher 4 (Community plant varieties) remain available for new applications. Reimbursement is always transferred directly to the SME’s bank account. Applications may be submitted by a business owner, an employee, or an authorised external representative acting on the company’s behalf.
The fact that trademark and design vouchers were exhausted well before the programme’s closing date is a telling indicator of the growing awareness among European businesses of the importance of intellectual property protection. For Ukrainian SMEs – who are also eligible to participate – this serves as a reminder of the need to act swiftly when similar opportunities arise in the future.
EUIPO recommends visiting the programme’s dedicated page regularly for up-to-date information on voucher availability.