You’ve chosen a name for your business, used it on your website, social media, and maybe even on products or promotional materials. Everything seems fine, until a simple but essential question arises: is your brand legally protected?
For many entrepreneurs, the decision to register a brand only comes when their business starts to grow or when they realize that a name, logo, or Facebook page does not, in itself, provide legal protection. That’s why SME Fund 2026 is back this year as a real support for small and medium-sized enterprises in the European Union, offering significant reimbursements of official fees for registering trademarks, designs, and patents with OSIM, EUIPO, or EPO.
If you’ve decided to protect your brand this year, SME Fund 2026 can turn this decision into an affordable and well-founded step.
What is SME Fund 2026 and why it matters to you
SME Fund 2026 is a non-repayable funding program managed by the EUIPO, dedicated to small and medium-sized enterprises in the European Union that want to protect their brand, design or innovations.
In short, the program works on the basis of vouchers that allow you to recover a significant part of the official fees paid for the registration of intellectual property rights. This makes the costs associated with registering a trademark or design much easier to bear, even for start-up businesses.
When can you apply for funds?
SME Fund 2026 opens on February 2, 2026.
The program works on a “first come, first served” basis and funds are limited. This means that the call remains open only until the budget is exhausted, with no guaranteed end date.
Experience from previous editions shows that the budget can be used up quickly, especially for the component dedicated to trademark and design registration. For this reason, entrepreneurs who already know that they want to protect their brand are encouraged to apply as soon as possible after the call opens.
Who is eligible?
You can apply if you are a small or medium-sized enterprise established in the European Union, regardless of the field of activity.
The application can be submitted:
directly by the administrator or owner of the company
by an authorized employee
through a specialized representative (intellectual property advisor, lawyer or authorized representative).
For many entrepreneurs, using a specialist significantly simplifies the procedure and reduces the risk of errors that can lead to loss of funding.
How much is reimbursed in 2026?
For trademarks and designs:
Reimbursement of 75% of the filing fees for applications for registration of trademarks and/or industrial designs filed with OSIM/EUIPO, of the fees for additional classes and of the fees for examination, registration, publication and deferment of publication.
The maximum amount refundable for each SME is EUR 700, for all activities related to trademarks and designs.
For patents:
Reimbursement of 75% of the fees for a “Documentary Search Report”. The report, prior to a patent application, is carried out worldwide and must be carried out by a national intellectual property office of an EU Member State.
Reimbursement of 75% of the fees for the prior grant of the patent (filing, search and examination), of the grant and of the publication for national protection in an EU Member State.
Reimbursement of 75% of the filing and search fees for European patents filed with the European Patent Office (EPO).
This year, legal costs for drafting and filing a new European patent application will be reimbursed at a rate of 50% up to a maximum of EUR 1,500.
The maximum amount refundable for each SME is EUR 3,500 for all patent-related activities.
Why is it important to register your trademark on time?
Many entrepreneurs postpone registering their trademark, believing that a domain name, a logo or a social media page are enough. In reality, only a registered trademark provides an exclusive, legally recognized right.
For a detailed explanation, we also recommend the article: Why local businesses should register their brand name with OSIM
SME Fund 2026 is, for many entrepreneurs, the ideal time to take this step without a significant financial effort.
For assistance, representation and consultancy in order to access SME Fund 2026 and register trademarks, designs or patents with OSIM, EUIPO or EPO, the TAS Agency is at your disposal:
📧 E-mail: office@agentiatas.ro
📞 Phone: 0745 160 163
