Event/topic date: 2026-02-02. Retrospective prepared and sources reviewed on 13 November 2026.
The 2026 SME Fund supports eligible businesses with selected IP costs. The programme began on 2 February 2026. Voucher conditions, the sequence of funding and IP applications, and available funds matter. At the review on 13 November 2026, the EUIPO page reports vouchers 1 and 2 unavailable because their funds are exhausted.
What businesses should review
A possible reimbursement should not be treated as a guaranteed discount. Keep the grant decision, activation, payment records and reimbursement request separately. A time-sensitive filing may still be commercially necessary without funding, so the budget must work without an assumed grant.
Four practical examples
The following scenarios are illustrative examples, not reports of client matters.
Not yet filed
A start-up plans to protect its product name. Check eligibility and current voucher availability before filing. A later application cannot reopen a funding allocation that has already been exhausted.
Costs already incurred
A business has already paid its filing fees. The invoice alone does not establish eligibility. Compare the grant date and the required sequence against the specific voucher conditions.
Several territories
Separate official fees, professional fees and local representative costs in the budget. Only eligible items should enter a reimbursement calculation; the existence of a voucher does not make every overseas expense reimbursable.
Time-critical launch
Before a trade fair, the business must settle its brand name. Compare the risks of delay with the available budget. Do not make a necessary filing depend solely on an uncertain grant.
Next step
Gather register extracts, existing correspondence and the planned changes. Identify the rights, products and dates actually affected. Tell us about your matter; scope and fees are agreed before instructions are accepted.