IPA4SME Open Call

The IPA4SME programme is holding an Open Call for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), offering financial support of up to EUR 15,000 to co-finance intellectual property (IP) diagnostic and protection actions.

This call has now been extended beyond SMEs that have received a Seal of Excellence, meaning more organisations can benefit from the programme!

Successful applicants will receive support in three main services:

• IP pre-diagnostic;
• Financial contributions towards European Patent Office (EPO) fees;
• Financial contributions towards external legal IP advice.

These services aim to improve the competences of SMEs in IP valorisation and management, as well as provide financial support related to patent application fees, external legal advice, and IP attorneys.

The Open Call is available for SMEs from an EU or COSME Member State who fall into one of the following categories:

• SMEs who have received a Seal of Excellence (SoE) from the Horizon 2020 programme or the EIC Accelerator Pilot;
• SMES who are identified as an innovative SME by the IP pre-diagnostic service (or equivalent) in cooperating EU or COSME Member States (Austria, Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, France, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, Serbia, Slovakia, and Spain).

There are two deadlines for this Open Call – 20 July 2021; and for SMEs who were awarded within the eighth cut-off date (on 4 March 2021), an extended deadline of 5 September 2021.

Find out how to apply here.