EPO offers SMEs discount on patent applications

A new and simplified fee system supports start-ups and small applicants with a 30 per cent discount on European patent applications at the EPO. This fee reduction for European patent applications will enter into force on 1 April 2024.

Startups, SMEs - who benefits?

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), start-ups, universities and public research institutions will benefit from a 30% reduction on all essential fees in the patent grant procedure. The only condition is that they must have filed fewer than five applications in the last five years.
A SME is a company with no more than 249 employees and a turnover of less than 50 million euros. A start-up must not have exceeded these figures if it wishes to receive the 30 per cent discount on patent applications.

For which fees is the EPO fee reduction available?

This fee reduction from the EPO is granted on application and examination fees, i.e. on
-
- the filing fee
- the fee for a European search or the fee for a supplementary European search in the case of a Euro-PCT application searched by an International Searching Authority (ISA) other than the EPO
- the designation fee
- the fee for grant
- as a lump sum compensation for translation costs in connection with the Unitary Patent;
- and the appeal fee.

The changes apply to fee payments made on or after 1 April for European patent applications and Euro-PCT applications that have entered the European phase, irrespective of their filing date. The reduction of the international search fee applies as long as the examination fee is paid on or after 1 April 2024, even if the international search fee was paid before that date.

For all users of MyEPO Portfolio, the fees will even be reduced to zero. This will provide new incentives to use the EPO's online-based MyEPO system.

In addition, moderate fee increases of 4% will be implemented from 1 April 2024 and six of eighteen internal annual fees will be increased. Application, opposition and appeal fees are excluded from this increase. And there will be no further inflation adjustment in 2025, the EPO has announced in its press release.

We take care of your patent application

Would you like to apply for or defend a patent for an invention? Benefit from our experience.

Please contact our patent law firm Köllner & Partner, an enquiry is free of charge and non-binding for you.
You can reach us by telephone on +49 69 69 59 60-0 or please send us an email info@kollner.eu.