Eurostars
Eureka (Intergovernmental Network)
Eurostars is the largest international funding programme for SMEs aiming to collaborate on R&D projects that create innovative products, processes or services for commercialisation.
- Use: R&D;
- Date closing: May 10, 2022
- Amount: 114,000 € - 500,000 €
- Industry focus: Agriculture, Forestry, Fishery; Arts; Tourism; Health; ICT; Food; Manufacturing; Chemical industry; Construction; Education; Energy and water supply; Transportation; Media; Others;
- Total budget: 1B €
- Entity type: Public Agency
- Vertical focus: All
- Website: https://www.eurekanetwork.org/open-calls/eurostars-funding-programme-2021
- Funding type: Grant;
- Funding rate: 60%
- Geographic focus: EU; Eureka associated countries;
- Sucess rates: 29%
- Public/Private: Public
- Stage focus: Seed; Series A;
- Applicant target: SME; Startup; Mid-cap; University; RTO; LE;
Overview
Eurostars program is aimed to support innovative SMEs and project partners (large companies, universities, research organisations and other types of organisations) by funding international collaborative R&D and innovation projects. Projects should result in the creation of new products, processes and services that can be rapidly commercialised in European or global markets. It is a competitive programme that sees an average of 29% of project applications receive funding.
Form your consortium
To apply, your consortium must be led by an innovative SME from an EUREKA country. The minimum consortium is composed at least by two independent entities from at least two participating countries, with at least one organisation coming from an EU or Horizon Europe Associated Country. The budget of the SMEs (excluding any subcontracting) must be 50% or more of the total project cost but no single participant or country should be responsible for more than 70% of the project's budget.
How to apply?
EUREKA is not a direct funding instrument. Projects are funded in a de-centralised manner through the funding agencies of the member countries. However, the Eurostars submission process is centralised through the EUREKA network.
As such the application is a two-stage procedure, first you submit your project application online via de Eureka Project Management Platform. This application is based on an ad-hoc specific text only form, that makes almost impossible to reuse existing documentation or business plans. Additionaly, you must upload compulsory annexes such as the financial annex, a commitment form, SME declarations, and optionally a technical annex and a gantt chart.
In parallel to the submission of the Eureka project application form, all project partners are required to submit a related national funding application, if required, to their respective funding agencies, so you have to consult with your national funding application the time-line and content for each application.
If the project is evaluated positively by the Eureka network, then you have the right to be financed by your country. Each country have different funding schemes (varying from direct grants to loans) and thus different funding rates. Even more, each country have different budgets for its Eurostars program. It can happen that even if the project has been approved by the EUREKA evaluators, maybe one consortium partner do not get funding due to this limitation on each country's budget.
Last updated on 2022-09-12 08:14
Eurostars FAQ
25 questions
What will be the deadlines in 2023?
November 25, 2022 - 11:18
The first 2023 call closes on April the 13th.
February 03, 2023 - 15:46
What are the deadlines/calls in 2022?
December 23, 2021 - 07:33
The Eurostars 3 call will open on July 13 and will close on September 15, 2023.
July 12, 2022 - 13:56
The Eureka Secretariat has officially announced the closing dates (deadines) for the 2022 Eurostars-3 program calls:
- March 24th
- September 15
- March 24th
- September 15
December 23, 2021 - 15:09
Is it better to apply for the Eurostars or the EIC Accelerator?
December 21, 2021 - 11:57
The Eurostars Programme is an option for SMEs to get public funding for intermediate TRL levels (TRL4-6) trans-national innovative cooperation R&D projects. Eurostars is open to technological innovation and supports early-stage projects (preliminary data) towards prototype development. This funding is to achieve proof of concept. The product should be on the market within two years after the project, or clinical trials should start.
Meanwhile, the EIC Accelerator program is aimed to reach the commercialisation (TRL6-TRL9) starting from a proof of concept.
Thus, the Eurostars-3 programme (2021 – 2027) will be ideal for SMEs willing to develop R&D, whereas the EIC Accelerator programme can be leveraged by the very same SMEs later when the TRL of their R&D projects is 6 or above.
Meanwhile, the EIC Accelerator program is aimed to reach the commercialisation (TRL6-TRL9) starting from a proof of concept.
Thus, the Eurostars-3 programme (2021 – 2027) will be ideal for SMEs willing to develop R&D, whereas the EIC Accelerator programme can be leveraged by the very same SMEs later when the TRL of their R&D projects is 6 or above.
December 21, 2021 - 12:05
What is the application procedure?
November 18, 2021 - 16:21
The application is made through the EUREKA platform, where you create the application for your project, and you invite all your partners to fill the different sections for this project. The platform is designed to be collaborative. Writers can leave comments to each other, and each partner has a private area to upload confidential information for the financial viability that only their own national funding body can access.
The platform has 5 different sections that must be filled.
1.- Summary of your project
2.- The project application itself is divided into the sections (Impact, Excellence and Quality and efficiency and Ethics)
3.- A Partner-specific section including: project costs, financial information, funding requested, core business and expertise, contribution to the project, benefits of the participation, financial situation and how you intend to finance your participation.
4.- Declarations: Including the commitment form that is compulsory for all the consortia members.
5.- Work packages description.
Once you have filled all the subsections, the platform lets you upload the application. However, once you send the application, you can only modify contact information.
The platform has 5 different sections that must be filled.
1.- Summary of your project
2.- The project application itself is divided into the sections (Impact, Excellence and Quality and efficiency and Ethics)
3.- A Partner-specific section including: project costs, financial information, funding requested, core business and expertise, contribution to the project, benefits of the participation, financial situation and how you intend to finance your participation.
4.- Declarations: Including the commitment form that is compulsory for all the consortia members.
5.- Work packages description.
Once you have filled all the subsections, the platform lets you upload the application. However, once you send the application, you can only modify contact information.
November 29, 2021 - 15:18
What is the success rate of the Eurostars?
November 18, 2021 - 16:21
EUREKA published that 29% of the applications received funding. However, it is not specified whether this success rate is from the last call or the whole time the program has been running. In addition, this success rate depends on each country's allocated budget. It can happen that within this 29% some companies are working self-funding their part in the project. To give you an example last 2020 call, only 18 companies were financed in Spain with an average funding of 250.000€ per project.
November 29, 2021 - 12:10
Can I resubmit a rejected proposal?
November 18, 2021 - 16:21
Yes, you can, however, the platform has been slightly changed for this 2021 call. So you cannot just "clone" and "resubmit" a rejected proposal.
First, all partners must complete the commitment document and financial viability check (for each call). After that you must re-fill three sections (Impact, Excellence, and Quality and efficiency) with a total of 13 subsections. Each subsection has a set of questions that you can answer directly on the platform (plain text only). Most questions are limited to 500-1,000 characters
First, all partners must complete the commitment document and financial viability check (for each call). After that you must re-fill three sections (Impact, Excellence, and Quality and efficiency) with a total of 13 subsections. Each subsection has a set of questions that you can answer directly on the platform (plain text only). Most questions are limited to 500-1,000 characters
November 29, 2021 - 13:00
Can two companies apply together?
November 18, 2021 - 16:21
At least two companies MUST apply together. Eurostars is a program collaborative and international (at least two partners from two different countries from the EUREKA Network - and at least one of them from the European Union).
Additionally, the consortium can include more organisations, even if they are not based in EUREKA's network countries. However, there is no funding available for those organisations outside the EUREKA's network, and a self-funding declaration must be provided.
Additionally, the consortium can include more organisations, even if they are not based in EUREKA's network countries. However, there is no funding available for those organisations outside the EUREKA's network, and a self-funding declaration must be provided.
November 29, 2021 - 12:01
How long does it take to receive the funding?
November 18, 2021 - 16:21
Should I write my own application, or should I hire a consultant?
November 18, 2021 - 16:21
You have to take into account that if you have already identified your consortium partners and the project idea is already established, it takes up to 2 months to prepare a competitive EUROSTARS proposal (from outlining work packages until the final submission of the application).
So, you should consider whether you can dedicate the time ( and also associated internal costs) and talent to writing a lengthy proposal, whether you have the skills required, and whether you can afford a consultancy.
You should also consider that the Eurostars project requires a deep understanding of both the technology and the business, whereas the latter is mostly sufficient for other European funding opportunities such as the EIC Accelerator. If you hire a consultant, you will be expected to give a lot of input regarding the technology and the state-of-the-art.
So, you should consider whether you can dedicate the time ( and also associated internal costs) and talent to writing a lengthy proposal, whether you have the skills required, and whether you can afford a consultancy.
You should also consider that the Eurostars project requires a deep understanding of both the technology and the business, whereas the latter is mostly sufficient for other European funding opportunities such as the EIC Accelerator. If you hire a consultant, you will be expected to give a lot of input regarding the technology and the state-of-the-art.
November 29, 2021 - 17:18
What Technology Readiness Level (TRL) is required?
November 18, 2021 - 16:20
Eurostars programme funds the TRL 4 – 6 R&D projects. However, you have to take into account that they must lead to a new product, process or service that can be rapidly commercialised (in the case of biotechnology, biomedical or medical projects, clinical trials is foreseen to start rapidly after the end of the project)
November 29, 2021 - 13:07
Who can apply to the Eurostars?
November 18, 2021 - 16:19
Eurostars is funding aimed at collaborative research projects. To apply the Eurostars, you must establish an international consortium with other organisations. The leader must be an innovative SME based in one EUREKA's network country. The rest of the consortium can be formed by all types of organisations such as large companies, research institutes, universities, even other SMEs.
It is essential to be eligible. The different organisations within the consortium must be based in at least two different EUREKA's network countries, and at least one organisation must be based in a Horizon Europe country.
Let me give you an example: a consortium of an SME from Canada and one LE from Singapore would not be eligible (although both companies in the consortium are based in EUREKA's countries, because none belongs to a Horizon Europe country)
Although it is difficult to estimate, it is important to consider the budget limitations of each country when forming your consortium. Maybe your project will have more options if you find a partner in a country with a bigger budget, and there are fewer applicants.
Regarding the type of entities in the consortia, it is compulsory to have at least one SME (that must be the project leader). However, every partner must check their own national funding body because each has independent rules on: type of organisations that can be funded, activities that can be funded, and funding rates and thresholds.
It is essential to be eligible. The different organisations within the consortium must be based in at least two different EUREKA's network countries, and at least one organisation must be based in a Horizon Europe country.
Let me give you an example: a consortium of an SME from Canada and one LE from Singapore would not be eligible (although both companies in the consortium are based in EUREKA's countries, because none belongs to a Horizon Europe country)
Although it is difficult to estimate, it is important to consider the budget limitations of each country when forming your consortium. Maybe your project will have more options if you find a partner in a country with a bigger budget, and there are fewer applicants.
Regarding the type of entities in the consortia, it is compulsory to have at least one SME (that must be the project leader). However, every partner must check their own national funding body because each has independent rules on: type of organisations that can be funded, activities that can be funded, and funding rates and thresholds.
November 29, 2021 - 13:27
How does it work?
November 10, 2021 - 12:51
Within the first week after you have submitted your application, the Eureka Association will conduct an eligibility check, followed by a review of your application by three independent experts as well as a legal and financial viability check of your organisation by the respective national funding authorities of the partners’ respective countries of residence.
You will receive the evaluators’ comments on your proposal after about 2 months, not the final result though. As a final step, an independent panel will rank all eligible and evaluated applications and perform an ethics review.
You will receive the evaluators’ comments on your proposal after about 2 months, not the final result though. As a final step, an independent panel will rank all eligible and evaluated applications and perform an ethics review.
December 21, 2021 - 11:22
Eurostars program has an evaluation centralised by Eureka but the funding is de-centralised and falls on the national funding bodies.
First, your company must establish an eligible international consortium for the project. After that, you log in to the platform www.myeurekaproject.org and create the project application. It is a collaborative platform where you invite all your partners and can fill the different sections and even make comments in the text.
The platform has 5 different sections
1.- Summary of your project
2.- The project application itself that is divided into three sections (Impact, Excellence and Quality and efficiency)
3.- A Partner-specific section including: project costs, financial information, funding requested, core business and expertise, contribution to the project, benefits of the participation, financial situation and how you intend to finance your participation.
4.- Declarations: Including the commitment form that is compulsory for all the consortia members.
5.- Work packages description.
With this information, first national funding bodies proceed for a financial viability check of each partner, and after that the evaluators' panel review applications.
If your application is evaluated positively you can be founded by your national funding body. However, to receive this funding sometimes require an additional application to your national funding body (in some countries even before receiving the evaluators' report). Before applying, each project partner should check the funding rules in their country on our website and contact their national funding body for more information.
Funding rates vary from country to country being the average up to 50% of the eligible project costs and a maximum grant of 500.000€.
First, your company must establish an eligible international consortium for the project. After that, you log in to the platform www.myeurekaproject.org and create the project application. It is a collaborative platform where you invite all your partners and can fill the different sections and even make comments in the text.
The platform has 5 different sections
1.- Summary of your project
2.- The project application itself that is divided into three sections (Impact, Excellence and Quality and efficiency)
3.- A Partner-specific section including: project costs, financial information, funding requested, core business and expertise, contribution to the project, benefits of the participation, financial situation and how you intend to finance your participation.
4.- Declarations: Including the commitment form that is compulsory for all the consortia members.
5.- Work packages description.
With this information, first national funding bodies proceed for a financial viability check of each partner, and after that the evaluators' panel review applications.
If your application is evaluated positively you can be founded by your national funding body. However, to receive this funding sometimes require an additional application to your national funding body (in some countries even before receiving the evaluators' report). Before applying, each project partner should check the funding rules in their country on our website and contact their national funding body for more information.
Funding rates vary from country to country being the average up to 50% of the eligible project costs and a maximum grant of 500.000€.
November 29, 2021 - 13:48
Eurostars Reviews
1 reviews
4
Recommend to a Friend
Experience
Getting the funds
Simple process
3 Average
4.0
December 22, 2021 - 14:46
Experience
Recommend
Reasonable application process but slow approval
Simple process: 3/5
Pros:
- Promotes international collaboration
- Higher success rates than other EU funded programmes (eg. Horizon Europe)
- Easy to get advice from Eureka organizations
- Promotes international collaboration
- Higher success rates than other EU funded programmes (eg. Horizon Europe)
- Easy to get advice from Eureka organizations
Cons:
- Rules are different across countries
- Need to go through a double application process (Eureka + national)
- Limited funding
- Rules are different across countries
- Need to go through a double application process (Eureka + national)
- Limited funding
Advice for applicants
- Start preparing the consortium at least 6 months in advance
- Check all eligility criteria with the national agency
Advice for the Fund
- Unify criteria across countries
- Provide a single point of contact
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