Ideas Powered for Business SME Fund 2025

The Ideas Powered for Business SME Fund is a grant scheme designed to help EU-based small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) protect their intellectual property (IP) rights. This initiative, a collaboration between the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), the European Commission, and the European Union Intellectual Property Network (EUIPN), is instrumental in fostering growth and innovation across the EU. Over the past five years, the SME Fund has provided financial support and resources to more than 72,000 European SMEs, reinforcing its vital role in empowering businesses.

Currently, Voucher 3 (Patents) and Voucher 4 (Community Plant Varieties) are unavailable for new applications as funds have been exhausted due to the high number of requests received. However, it is still possible to apply for Voucher 1 (IP Scan) and Voucher 2 (trademarks and designs). 

In a recent discussion with the IP Unit of Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW), it was confirmed that three new application windows for Patent Vouchers will open in early May, late July, and November. Once granted, Patent Vouchers must be activated within one month, with a limited extension option available, though the timeframe remains tight.