On 5 March 2024, the Ministry of Industry and Trade published a call for tender for the activity Voucher Innovation-Protection of Industrial Property Rights of the Operational Programme Technology and Applications for Competitiveness (OP TAK). OP TAK 2021-2027 is one of Europe’s leading programmes to support entrepreneurs. Its aim is to increase the added value of small and medium-sized enterprises, support the development of new innovative businesses and facilitate a smart transition to a sustainable and digital economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As stated by Josef S\u00edkela, Minister of Industry and Trade: “Innovations by small and medium-sized enterprises increase their competitiveness, make production more efficient, reduce costs and strengthen their resilience. Through these vouchers companies can have their ideas professionally evaluated before the actual implementation of the project or test and certify new products, services and technologies. A total of 50 million crowns has been earmarked for them for the new challenge. The call is open to all small and medium-sized companies and organisations for research and knowledge dissemination. These companies can apply for support after filing an application for an invention, trade mark, utility model or industrial design with the competent authority. The competent authority may be the Industrial Property Office of the Czech Republic, but also other international, regional or national IP protection offices. The application can be submitted from 19 March 2024 to 31 December 2025 through the ISKP21+ website. On the date of submission of the application for support, no trade mark, utility model or industrial design must have been granted and no application for an invention relating to the technical solution that is the subject of the application for support must have been published. Companies will have the opportunity to submit the application after the start of the procedures, but before the deadline for completing the physical implementation of the project, i.e. 30 June 2027.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thanks to these innovation vouchers, companies will be able to benefit from funding covering 75% of the costs incurred, from a minimum of 50.000 crowns to a maximum of 500.000 crowns. Eligible expenses are costs associated with the services of patent attorneys for:
– representation before state administration bodies;
– provision of advice and other activities related to the publication of applications for inventions, registration of utility models, industrial designs or trade marks, or the granting of patents in the Czech Republic, if they were granted prior to the publication of the invention of applications abroad;
– response to inspections;
– searches;
– translations;
– administrative fees paid to the bodies responsible for industrial property protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The funding is intended to support all those activities aimed at ensuring the protection of industrial property in the form of publication of invention applications and registration of utility models, industrial designs and trade marks. This programme, therefore, not only strengthens the competitiveness of SMEs by enabling them to effectively protect their innovations, but also opens the door to prospects for growth and success in international markets. With support covering a significant share of the costs, companies can face the patenting process, which is essential for their ideas and their realisation, with with greater serenity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In an increasingly globalised world, where competitiveness is also based on the ability to protect and valorise one’s inventions, the voucher programme is a valuable tool that can help consolidate one’s market presence and ensure a sustainable competitive advantage over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sources: https:\/\/www.optak.cz\/inovacni-vouchery-ochrana-prav-prumysloveho-vlastnictvi-vyzva-iii\/a-282\/<\/a> https:\/\/www.camic.cz\/ <\/a>https:\/\/www.mpo.cz\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n AI-generated image <\/p>\n\n\n\n