The application window for the Innovation Voucher granted by Business Finland opens again on January 16, 2023. At the same time, its value rises from the previous 5,000 euros to 6,000 euros. If brand protection is actual in your company right now and you want to get the most out of public funding available, start with the Innovation Voucher.
The Innovation Voucher is intended for start-ups and SMEs with a new product or service idea that has potential to grow internationally, and that cannot be implemented without external expertise. With the help of the Innovation Voucher, a company can acquire expert services that bring the company new information and know-how needed for the growth. The value of the renewed Innovation Voucher in 2023 is 6,000 euros, which is 100% of the amount of the purchased services excluding VAT.
- With the Innovation Voucher, you can create a brand right strategy to support your company's new business in order to increase the value of the brand and prevent business risks. Before registering a trademark, it is also recommendable to secure that the planned trademark does not infringe the IP rights of other companies, and that it will be possible to get an exclusive right for the brand as planned in the main export markets, Jani Kaulo gives an example of a most useful target for the Innovation Voucher for start-ups and SMEs.
You can receive the Voucher once, provided that your company has not received any other Business Finland innovation funding in the current year or in the previous year. Received corona funding or energy support do not prevent receiving an Innovation Voucher. The Voucher is granted based on a company’s business ID. A new company can apply for a Voucher, even if the owner of this new company has another company elsewhere to which the Voucher has already been granted.
Acceptable IPR costs: preliminary searches, protection strategy, first applications, licensing studies, agreement templates
Acceptable IPR costs in all of Business Finland's innovation funding include preliminary searches related to IP protection in international markets and the acquisition of intellectual property rights, creating an IPR strategy, studies related to licensing, and the protection of key IP rights through first applications. Eligible costs may also include creating agreement templates with the help of an IPR expert and preparing for licensing or other cooperation negotiations with foreign partners.
Once the Innovation Voucher has been used, other public funding is also available for SMEs aiming at international markets, which can include IPR expert services: Business Finland's Market Explorer, Tempo and Into funding; SME Fund managed by the EUIPO to support trademark and design applications; and EU funding granted by the local ELY centres in Finland for developing the business and innovation environment.
Do you want to increase the value of your brand in the long run?
Kaulo & Partners helps with planning of IP protection as a strategic asset and increasing the value of brands. IP investments perform best when the protection is planned from a business perspective and in the long run, not just as one-time registrations.
Contact us!
Jani Kaulo, jani.kaulo@kaulopatners.fi, +358 40 637 5442
Maria Puronvarsi, maria.puronvarsi@kaulopartners.fi, +358 40 669 0527