The costs of a patent depend on the region for which you are applying for the patent. For example, a European patent will generally cost more than a Belgian patent.

The costs of a patent can be divided as follows:

• Costs of the patent attorney: Drawing up a high-quality patent application requires specialist knowledge. The costs of a patent attorney vary, depending on the complexity and the number of countries in which protection is sought.
• Filing costs: These are the costs that you pay to the official patent administration for filing the application. The rates differ per country and per type of patent.
• Search costs: A prior art search is often required to determine whether your invention is new and inventive.
• Translations: If you want to file a patent in multiple countries, translations are often required. The costs of this depend on the length of the application and the number of languages
• Maintenance fees: A patent must be renewed annually to remain valid. The costs of this often increase as the protection period progresses. I

Obtaining and maintaining a patent can range from 5,000 to 10,000 euros for a simple application in one country to tens of thousands of euros for international protection. It is important to draw up a budget and seek advice from a patent attorney to get a clear picture of the costs in your specific situation.