intelligent
// REGIONAL ROUND-UP // AFRICA | APAC | EUROPE | MIDDLE EAST | NORTH AMERICA
€ 47 MILLION FUND TO PROTECT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OF EU SMES
property offices , the European Union Intellectual Property Office and the Benelux Intellectual Property Office ) for trademark and design registration
• Reimburse 50 % of the fees charged by the World Intellectual Property Organisation for obtaining international trademark and design protection
• Reimburse 50 % of the fees charged by national patent offices for the registration of patents in 2022
• From 2023 , further services could be covered e . g ., partial reimbursement of the costs of the patent prior art search , of the patent filing application ; private IP advice charged by IP attorneys ( for patent registration , licensing agreements , IP valuation , alternative dispute resolution costs , etc .).
The Commission and the European Union Intellectual Property Office ( EUIPO ) has launched the new EU SME Fund , which offers vouchers for EU-based SMEs to help them protect their intellectual property ( IP ) rights . This is the second EU SME Fund aiming at supporting SMEs in the COVID-19 recovery and green and digital transitions for the next three years ( 2022 – 2024 ).
Margrethe Vestager , Executive Vice-President , in charge of competition policy , said : “ Small is beautiful , but if SMEs want to grow or take the lead in new technologies , they need to protect their inventions and creations , as big companies do . New ideas and expertise are the main added value we have in the EU . With this fund , we want to support SMEs to face those peculiar times and remain strong and innovative through the decades to come .”
The EU SME Fund , with a budget of € 47 million , will offer the following support :
• Reimburse 90 % of the fees charged by member states for IP Scan services , which provide a broad assessment of the intellectual property needs of the applying SME , taking into account the innovative potential of its intangible assets
• Reimburse 75 % of the fees charged by intellectual property offices ( including national intellectual
SMEs need a flexible intellectual property toolbox and quick financing to protect their innovations . Hence , for the first time , the new EU SME Fund is now also covering patents . The Commission ’ s financial
“
SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL , BUT IF SMES WANT TO GROW OR TAKE THE LEAD IN NEW TECHNOLOGIES , THEY NEED TO PROTECT THEIR INVENTIONS AND CREATIONS , AS BIG COMPANIES DO .
contribution , which amounts to € 2 million , will be dedicated fully to the patent-related services . For instance , an SME could apply for the reimbursement of the registration fee to patent its invention in a member state .
Thierry Breton , Commissioner for Internal Market , added : “ It goes without saying that SMEs have been particularly impacted by the COVID-19 crisis . But what does not change is that they remain the backbone of our economy , of our ecosystems . This Fund will support SMEs to valorise their innovations and creativity . This is crucial for SMEs to recapitalise and drive the green and digital transitions .” �
Intelligent SME . tech |
|
. tech |
59 |