For the third consecutive year, the SME Fund has announced the launch of the “Ideas Powered for Business SME Fund” program. In collaboration with the Patent Office of the Republic of Bulgaria and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), the fund offers financial grant support for protecting intellectual property (IP) rights.
The program, active from January 22, 2023, to December 6, 2024, provides vouchers tailored to the specific IP needs of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Each voucher comes with a limited usage period, encouraging businesses to apply when they have immediate requirements.
The program offers support in the following areas:
- Brand and Design Protection:
- Reimbursement of 75% of fees for the registration of trademarks and designs with national and European institutions.
- National and European Patents:
- Reimbursement of 75% of filing fees for national and European patents.
- Possibility of reimbursement of 50% of legal costs for European patent applications.
If you have been deterred from registering your trademark due to high institutional fees, the European Union now offers to cover 50% of the basic fees for trademark and design applications. This is part of a €20 million Grant Fund aimed at helping SMEs maximize their intellectual property assets.
The Georgiev & Petrov Law Firm can assist you in protecting your brand, design, or logo by:
- Advising on the most appropriate classes of goods and services for brand protection, as well as the territorial scope of protection, considering your current and future business plans.
- Assessing the risk of conflict with previously registered trademarks.
- Assisting in the registration process with the relevant Intellectual Property Offices.
- Monitoring registered trademarks that may infringe on your rights.
- Assisting in the process of obtaining financial assistance under the program.
