SME Fund 2026 Trademark Voucher: What Applicants Needed to Know
The 2026 call used a voucher and reimbursement process. The trademark voucher is no longer open to new applications; 2027 conditions have not been announced.
What the 2026 trademark voucher offered
The EUIPO SME Fund 2026 included a voucher for trade marks and designs. Under that call, eligible SMEs could request reimbursement of up to 75% of certain eligible application fees, subject to the scheme’s conditions and a maximum amount. Reimbursement was not an automatic discount at checkout: the business first paid eligible fees and later requested reimbursement through the programme process.
The 2026 rules covered specified national, regional and EU filing fees. The precise eligible activities, caps, dates and supporting documents were set by the call and grant decision. Read the EUIPO SME Fund 2026 FAQ for the official scheme details. This article describes that call, not a future entitlement.
The order of steps was critical
Applicants had to submit a voucher request and receive a positive grant decision before starting the eligible IP activity. Filing the trademark first and applying for the voucher afterwards could make those fees ineligible. Once a voucher was awarded, the SME had to activate it within the stated period, submit the trademark application, pay the official fees and request reimbursement with the required application and payment details.
Keep the grant decision, voucher reference, application number, filing date, fee breakdown and payment evidence in one place. The beneficiary SME—not its adviser—had to satisfy the official requirements and receive the reimbursement into its own account. If information was missing, the office could request clarification. Follow the expiry date in the actual voucher rather than relying on a general article or a third party’s timeline.
Availability has changed during the call
The SME Fund 2026 was a limited-budget call. EUIPO now states that Voucher 2 for trade marks and designs is unavailable for new applications because its funds have been exhausted. Existing beneficiaries may still need to complete the steps and deadlines shown in their grant decision and voucher. An exhausted call does not mean that every reimbursement request already awarded has been cancelled.
Do not pay a service provider on the assumption that an exhausted voucher can still be obtained for a new filing. Check the live EUIPO scheme page and your own account. A provider’s preparation or risk-assessment fee is separate from the official filing fee and is governed by its own contract and refund terms.
What businesses can do while waiting for 2027
SME FUND 2027 rules, budget, opening date, rates, eligible activities and application process have not been published. The 2026 rate of up to 75% and cap do not guarantee the same terms in a later call. Businesses can use the waiting period to decide who owns the brand, choose the exact mark, list realistic goods and services, search for similar rights and collect company details needed for a future application.
Avoid starting an activity that you expect a future voucher to reimburse until the official 2027 conditions explain when costs become eligible. If the timing matters, compare the cost and risk of filing now with waiting; there is no universal answer. See our SME Fund programme explainer and EU application checklist for preparation steps.
Treat estimates and guarantees carefully
A cost calculator based on 2026 rules is an illustration, not a promise of reimbursement under a later call. The office’s grant decision and official call terms control eligibility. Separate official fees, professional service fees, taxes and other costs when comparing quotes. Confirm exactly which fee is refundable, who pays it, when payment is due and what happens if a voucher is refused or unavailable.
Eesti Consulting’s service-fee guarantee, where offered in the current terms, covers that service fee only. It does not guarantee a voucher, registration, reimbursement of EUIPO fees or a 2027 programme outcome. Ask for written terms before engaging a provider. For an individual preparation discussion, send an enquiry; official eligibility remains determined by the programme operator.