In recent years – including 2026 – the European Union has made funds dedicated to the protection of intellectual property available to SMEs, for trademarks, designs and even patents. It is a real, concrete support that can significantly reduce the costs of these steps.
Although the initiative is not guaranteed indefinitely, there is currently this opportunity, and many companies choose to postpone it or do not get to access it, although the process is simpler than it seems.
SME Fund 2026 continues this financing line and offers consistent repayments for brand protection and innovations. However, the experience of previous years shows that not all companies take advantage of this opportunity.
Why does this happen and, above all, what can you do differently?
- “It’s not a priority now”
In practice, a lot of things end up on the “later” list, and brand protection is often one of them.
When the business starts to go, the focus is, naturally, on sales, customers, development. Most of the time, it’s not that you don’t want brand protection, it’s simply that it’s not an urgent topic. And in the absence of a clear moment in which to address it, it remains in the background.
The problem is that it is precisely at this stage that the brand becomes vulnerable: it can be copied, challenged or even registered by someone else.
- Lack of clear information
For many entrepreneurs, the SME Fund is something they’ve heard of, but without a complete picture of how it works in practice. It is known that there are funds, but it is not always clear what the process actually entails: what steps must be followed, how long it takes, when the fees are paid and when the refund is made.
For a complete, step-by-step explanation of how the SME Fund works and the steps involved, we have detailed the entire process in our guide.
3. The perception that it is “complicated”
Many entrepreneurs associate European funds with cumbersome procedures and a lot of bureaucracy. In reality, in the case of SME Fund, things are much simpler than they seem at first glance.
In short, the process involves submitting an application, obtaining the voucher, paying the trademark or design fees, and then requesting a refund. It is an administrative process, with clear steps, not a technical or difficult one.
When you work through a representative, your involvement is minimal. In practice, only a few basic documents are needed – the company’s certificate (with the CUI), an account statement, the administrator’s identity card and the signing of a declaration on own responsibility.
The rest of the process – from filing the application and tracking deadlines, to registering the trademark and requesting a refund – is handled entirely by the representative.
- It is not clear what needs to be protected
In many cases, the postponement does not come from a lack of interest, but from the lack of a clear decision: what should actually be protected.
For some businesses the brand name is enough, for others the logo also matters, and in certain situations there are also products or packaging that can be protected as designs. In addition, if there are technical developments, patent protection may also be discussed.
Without this clarity, the process remains “on hold”, because there is no concrete starting point.
In practice, these things are quickly established following a discussion applied to the business. A consultancy from the TAS Agency can help you identify exactly what is relevant to your business: whether the registration of a trademark is sufficient or whether it is useful to protect other rights, such as the design (shape or pattern of the products) or possible technical solutions.
Conclusion
SME Fund 2026 represents, in this context, a concrete opportunity to integrate the legal protection of the brand and innovations into the business development strategy, under advantageous financial conditions.
If you need clarity on the options available or the steps to follow, the TAS Agency team can advise you and manage the entire process, from the initial assessment to obtaining reimbursement.
For assistance, representation and/or advice on accessing the SME Fund 2026 and registering a trademark with OSIM or EUIPO, you can contact us at:
📧 Email: office@agentiatas.ro
📞 Phone: 0745 160 163
