French PI Pass (PI PASS) makes its grand debut

To help startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) protect their innovations, the French National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) has launched an ambitious financial support program: the PI Passport. This program not only provides a powerful tool for companies to effectively integrate intellectual property rights in their R&D processes, but also provides a strong foundation for the implementation of innovation protection strategies. The French Patent PI Passport helps companies finance patent applications, including regular and provisional applications, as well as utility certificates.

What is PI Pass

• The PI Passport is a financial aid program for implementing intellectual property rights. It is a strategic financial support program for innovation launched by the French National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) to encourage startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to take measures to protect their innovations and creations. By covering part of the intellectual property costs, the PI Passport aims to:
  • Raise awareness of integrating intellectual property rights in the R&D process
  • Effectively support enterprises in implementing innovation protection strategies
  • Giving businesses more autonomy in specific areas of intellectual property law

Why apply for a PI Pass?

• Intellectual property (IP) is often not a priority for businesses, or even neglected, due to lack of funds, time, or perceptions of its complexity. However, establishing an IP strategy early on is crucial for businesses to maximize the protection and development of their innovations. The PI Passport is a financial support mechanism, part of the IP strategy support offered by the INPI Business National Network, designed to help businesses secure funding during initial IP procedures.
• Under certain conditions, the PI may cover 50% of the cost of the selected services.

What is a PI Pass?

• The PI Passport allows you to obtain services provided by patent agents, lawyers, etc. at a lower cost. There are six categories of services that can be funded by the PI Passport, aiming to meet the intellectual property needs of enterprises as much as possible:
  • Understand the technological landscape and protect innovation:
    • Patent document monitoring
    • Patent Literature Search
    • Patentability/freedom to operate analysis
    • Technology Status Report
    • French patent application
    • Patent layout
  • International protection, i.e., applications for patents, trademarks and designs abroad
  • Securing partnerships, collaborative R&D and/or public-private technology transfer contracts, and intellectual property contract support
  • Asset Valuation and Tax Management: Intellectual Property Tax Management and Intellectual Property Asset Valuation
  • Dealing with litigation risks: including pre-litigation analysis, such as intellectual property defense or attack strategies, unfair competition, etc.
  • Protecting digital works and computer networks , such as digital preservation and network security

Who can apply for a PI Pass?

• The PI Passport financial mechanism is open to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), including micro-enterprises, as defined by INSEE, where no more than 25% of the capital is held by non-qualified entities. Qualified entities must be legal entities of a commercial nature, such as:
  • Limited Liability Company (SA)
  • Simplified Stock Corporation (SAS)
  • Limited Liability Company (SARL)
• The following entities are excluded:
  • Pre-entrepreneurship stage
  • Individual business owners (micro-business owners, ordinary self-employed persons, and limited liability self-employed persons (EIRL))
  • association
  • Civil and Commercial Corporation (SCI)
  • Freelancer
  • Public and semi-public innovation support structures, such as Technology Resource Centres (CRTs), competitiveness clusters, development companies, etc.

Steps to obtain PI Pass

Financial support mechanism

• INPI will propose an IP action plan for the company. If the company is found to be resource-constrained, the PI pass will be triggered.
  • Once the specific service is selected with the assistance of INPI, applicants can receive fast and practical support, and INPI will cover 50% of the intellectual property expenses.
  • The service costs can be up to €6,000, of which INPI can finance up to €3,000
  • During the enterprise lifecycle, you can enjoy up to 3 PI passes, corresponding to 3 different services
  • The maximum grant amount per company is €10,000, and INPI can provide a maximum of €5,000 in total.

Conditions and requirements

• To be eligible for French patent assistance, the following conditions must be met:
  • Have had a dedicated interview with INPI or used the Patentability Passport, and the interview/passport was at least partially focused on the technical aspects of the proposed application title
  • Apply for a partial refund of the application fee from the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) under the SME Fund scheme