Many entrepreneurs have heard of the SME Fund, but in practice many end up saying the same thing: “I wanted to apply, but I didn’t get the chance.”
In 2025, some vouchers were quickly sold out, and many companies discovered too late that they could have recovered a significant portion of the trademark registration fees.
The good news is that the SME Fund continues into 2026. If you missed out on funding last year, this year you have a new chance — but with some important lessons learned from previous editions.
- Don’t wait for the end of the year
One of the most common mistakes is postponing the application.
Although the SME Fund 2026 program is officially open until December 4, 2026, funds are limited. In previous years, certain types of vouchers were sold out well before the deadline.
The program works on a first-come, first-served basis. The earlier you apply, the higher the chances of getting funding.
- Prepare your brand or design in advance
Another reason why many companies failed to use the voucher in previous years was that the brand or design was not ready for submission.
From the moment you apply for the SME Fund, it takes an average of about two weeks to receive the decision and the voucher.
From that moment on, an important stage begins: the voucher must be activated within one month from the date of the grant decision. During this period, the activities for which funding has been requested (e.g. trademark or design application) must be initiated.
This month represents, in practice, the interval in which the last adjustments can be made:
- whether the trademark will contain certain words or graphics;
- which logo variant will be submitted;
- for which products or services protection is requested.
However, it is important that these decisions are not postponed too long. Any activity started after the voucher expiration date is no longer eligible for a refund.
Therefore, even if there is an adjustment interval after receiving the voucher, it is recommended that the main direction (brand name, logo and field of activity) is already clear before submitting the application for the SME Fund.
- Check the necessary documents in advance
The application itself is not complicated, but administrative bottlenecks can occur when documents are not prepared correctly.
To submit the application through a representative, it is usually necessary:
- the company’s registration certificate (with the CUI);
- the company’s bank statement;
- the administrator’s identity card;
- the Declaration of Honour.
Preparing these documents ahead of time can make the difference between a fast-filed application and a late one.
If you want to see the full application procedure, explained step by step, including the steps of submitting the application and refund, we detailed the whole process in our previous article.
- You can apply even if you have benefited from the SME Fund in previous years
A lesser-known aspect is that the program is not limited to a single participation. If you benefited from the SME Fund in 2024 or 2025, you can apply again in 2026, as long as you comply with the conditions of the program and do not apply for funding for the same activity.
In practice, this is common as brands evolve. For example, a company may decide to file a new trademark if:
- wants a rebranding;
- introduces a modernized logo;
- Add a tagline to your existing brand.
- Launch new products or services.
- develops designs for new products.
It is, moreover, normal for a mature brand to own several trademarks and registered designs, so that the legal protection is as comprehensive as possible and reflects the evolution of the business and intellectual property rights.
- Apply with a strategy
The SME Fund is an excellent opportunity to reduce the costs of brand protection, but it is important that the application is not done just because there is funding, but within a clear strategy for the protection of intellectual property.
One of the first aspects to look at is where you want to protect your brand. For some businesses, registering a trademark with OSIM (national protection, in Romania) is sufficient, especially if the activity is carried out exclusively on the local market.
In other situations, it may be more appropriate to file a European trade mark with the EUIPO, which offers protection in all Member States of the European Union through a single procedure. This option is frequently chosen by companies that sell online, export or have plans to expand in other countries.
It is also useful to analyze which elements of the brand are worth protecting. Sometimes the brand name is sufficient, but in other cases it may be appropriate to protect a logo, slogan or even designs for the company’s products separately.
In practice, the most effective protection strategies combine these elements, so that the brand is protected as completely as possible and adapted to the evolution of the business.
If you are not sure which is the most suitable option for your brand, you can contact us, and the TAS Agency team can help you choose the optimal solution and manage the entire application process for SME Fund 2026 and registration of intellectual property rights:
📧 Email: office@agentiatas.ro
📞 Phone: 0745 160 163
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