What is an EUIPO IP Scan?
An IP Scan is a pre-diagnostic audit of your business by an IP Scan Expert appointed by a national IP office, paid for through Voucher 1 of the EUIPO SME Fund, which refunds 90% of the cost up to €1,620, according to the EUIPO SME Fund 2026 FAQ. The expert reviews what you sell and where you are growing, then reports what to protect.
What does an IP Scan cover?
An IP Scan Expert looks at your business model, your products or services and your growth plans, then writes a report on which intangible assets you should protect and how. The EUIPO's own FAQ describes the aim as helping a business "register and capitalise on" its intellectual property and build an IP strategy into its business plan.
It is not legal advice. The EUIPO FAQ says the IP Scan "does not constitute a legal service" and is not a trademark search, a novelty search or a pre-filing. It tells you what to protect. Filing the trademark or design is a separate step, which Voucher 2 can fund.
| IP Scan | IP Scan Enforcement | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Which assets to protect and how | An existing or likely infringement dispute |
| Who carries it out | An IP Scan Expert listed by a national IP office | An IP lawyer listed by a national IP office |
| SME Fund refund | 90% | 90% |
| Voucher maximum | €1,620 for IP Scan and IP Scan Enforcement together |
Who can get an IP Scan?
An SME established in an EU member state where the national IP office offers the IP Scan service under the SME Fund. The price of a scan varies by country; the EUIPO publishes the list of participating offices and their prices with the call for proposals. The same SME Fund rules on size apply as for the trademark voucher, covered in who qualifies.
How does the IP Scan process work?
The order matters, because the voucher has to be granted before the service starts.
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1 | Apply for Voucher 1 in your SME Fund account at the EUIPO |
| 2 | Once the grant is awarded, contact your national IP office to start the IP Scan |
| 3 | The office gives you its list of authorised IP Scan Experts |
| 4 | Schedule the interview with the expert and pay for the service |
| 5 | The expert delivers the IP Scan report |
| 6 | The national office issues a proof of service delivery and payment |
| 7 | Request the 90% reimbursement from the EUIPO with that document |
IP Scan vouchers expire six months after the grant notification and cannot be extended, under the same FAQ.
Is the IP Scan voucher open now?
No. On 23 October 2026 the EUIPO SME Fund 2026 FAQ says Voucher 1 (IP Scans) and Voucher 2 (trade marks and designs) are closed to new applications because the funds are exhausted. EUIPO has published no reopening date. Adora IP expects October or November 2026. Current status of the fund.
Who carries out IP Scans in Bulgaria?
Gergana Dimitrova has been an IP Scan Expert for the Patent Office of the Republic of Bulgaria since 2023, carrying out IP Scans for Bulgarian SMEs under the SME Fund. She founded Adora IP and worked at the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center from 2018 to 2021.
A Bulgarian SME asks the Patent Office for its list of experts after the voucher is granted. If the scan recommends registering a trademark or design, Adora IP can file it, with Voucher 2 refunding 75% of the official fees up to €700.