On 24 March, the Spanish Official Gazette (BOE) published the extract of the Resolution of the Directorate of the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office (OEPM), announcing once again the grants for patents and utility models in Spain and abroad, whose regulatory bases can be consulted here.
From 25 March to 24 April 2026 (now until May 8th), applications may be submitted to benefit from this grant (under a competitive procedure), with a totalbudget of 5,300,000 euros.
As in previous calls, this grant is divided into two sections:
1. Programme to Promote Patent and Utility Model Applications Abroa
Grants for the extension of a patent or utility model application before national offices of third countries or regional offices. Individuals, SMEs, large companies and private non‑profit institutions with tax residence and domicile in Spain that meet the other requirements set out in the call may benefit from this programme. The patent or utility model must have been originally filed before the OEPM.
This programme includes the following procedures:
- Filing of a patent or utility model application.
- Validation of a European patent.
- Search report on the State of the Art.
- Patent application examination.
- Designation of countries.
- Excess claims fees.
- EPO annual fees.
This programme also covers activities carried out under the international PCT procedure, such as:
- The International PCT application when the OEPM has acted as Receiving Office.
- The International Search when the OEPM acts as the International Searching Authority.
- The International Preliminary Examination when the OEPM acts as the International Preliminary Examining Authority.
Eligible activities are those whose expenses were incurred between 1 January and 31 December 2025.
2. Programme to Promote Patent and Utility Model Applications in Spain
For this programme, which may be accessed by individuals or SMEs, the following may be subsidised:
- Filing of a Spanish patent or utility model.
- The State of the Art report for patents and utility models.
- The substantive examination for national patent applications.
These activities will be considered completed when they have been duly published in the Official Bulletin of Industrial Property (BOPI) by the OEPM during the years 2023, 2024 and 2025.
Key points of this new call
For this year’s edition of the programme, several aspects should be highlighted:
- The de minimis aid limit has been increased from 200,000 to 300,000 euros.
- To qualify as a beneficiary for grants exceeding 30,000 euros, compliance with the payment terms established in Law 3/2004 of 29 December must be proven.
- The expense documents required under the international programme must consist of an invoice issued by the representative who carried out the subsidised action.
We will be pleased to advise and assist you with the application process for these grants if you contact us at patents@pontipartners.com or by phone at 934 87 49 36.
