Newsletter No. 12 / 22 January 2021

The European Commission along with the European Intellectual Property Office («EUIPO») have started the «Ideas Powered for Business SME Fund», the purpose of which is to aid SMEs, by providing financial support, in order to assist with the registration and consequently the protection of their Intellectual Property and more specifically, Trademarks and Industrial Designs.

The «Ideas Powered for Business SME Fund», will distribute a grant of 20 million euros, among SMEs that are based in the EU, in an effort to introduce and increase awareness regarding intellectual property rights and attainable benefits deriving from such protection.

All interested parties must submit their application to EUIPO, prior to the filing of a Registration Application before the National Office. Once the application has been examined and accepted, the applicant will be notified and may proceed to file an application for Registration before the National Office. The timeframe for filing an application, at EUIPO, shall be separated in five (5) different phases during 2021, as described below:

Phase 1: 11 January 2021 - 31 January 2021

Phase 2: 1 March 2021- 31 March 2021

Phase 3: 1 May 2021 - 31 May 2021

Phase 4: 1 July 2021- 31 July 2021

Phase 5: 1 Sept. 2021 - 30 Sept. 2021

It should be noted that applications which will not be filed within the five (5) designated phases, as described above, shall not be considered. Furthermore, only one application for participation in the program, can be made and the maximum reimbursement that can be awarded to an applicant is 1,500 EUR. Lastly, grants will be awarded on a ‘first come, first served’ basis.

For further details and additional information regarding the program and/or to examine whether your enterprise meets the funding criteria, you may contact us at: corporate@ekllc.eu